UC61EY 

RARY 

ERSITY  OP 

IFORNIA 

TH 
NCES 


FIRST 


ANNUAL    REPORT 
*    '  ' 

ON   THE 


OP   THE 


STATE  OF  NEW-HAMPSHIRE, 


BY  CHARLES  T,  JACKSON, 
STATE  GEOLOGIST, 


CONCORD,  N.  H. 

CYRUS  BARTON,   STATE  PRINTER 

1841. 


EARTH 

SCIENCES 

LIBRARY 


RESOLVES 

OF  THE  LEGISLATURE  AUTHORISING  THE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 
OF  THE  STATE. 


AN  ACT  to  provide  for  the  Geological  and  Miner  alogi- 
cal  Survey  of  the  State. 

SECTION  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  Gen- 
eral Court  convened,  That  the  Governor  of  this  State  is  hereby  authorized  and  re- 
quired as  soon  as  may  be  after  the  passage  of  this  act  to  appoint  a  State  Geologist, 
who  shall  be  a  person  of  competent  scientific  and  practical  knowledge  of  the  sci- 
ences of  Geology  and  Mineralogy  ;  and  the  said  State  Geologist  shall  by  and  with 
the  consent  of  the  Governor  and  Council,  appoint  one  suitable  person  to  assist 
him  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  who  shall  be  a  skillful,  analytical  and  experi- 
mental chemist. 

SEC.  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  State 
Geologist  and  his  said  assistant  as  soon  as  may  be  practicable  after  their  appoint- 
ment, to  commence  and  carry  on,  with  as  much  expedition  and  despatch  as  may  be 
consistent  with  minuteness  and  accuracy,  a  thorough  Geological  and  Mineral- 
ogical  survey  of  this  State,  with  a  view  to  determine  the  order,  succession,  ar- 
rangement, relative  position,  dip  or  inclination,  and  comparative  magnitude  of  the 
several  strata  or  geological  formations  within  this  State,  and  to  discover  and  exam- 
ine all  beds  or  deposites  of  ore,  coal,  clay,  marls,  and  such  other  mineral  sub- 
stances as  may  be  useful  or  valuable,  and  to  perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be 
necessary  to  make  a  full  and  complete  Geological  and  Mineralogical  survey  of  the 
State. 

SEC.  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  assist- 
ant to  make  full  and  complete  examinations,  assays,  analyses  of  all  such  rocks,  ores, 
soils  or  other  substances  as  may  be  submitted  to  him  by  the  State  Geologist  for 
that  purpose  3  and  to  furnish  him  with  a  detailed  and  complete  account  of  the  re- 
sults so-obtained. 

SEC.  4.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  State 
Geologist,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  June  in  each  and  every  year  during  the  time 
necessarily  occupied  by  said  survey,  to  make  an  annual  report  of  the  progress  of 
said  survey,  accompanied  with  such  maps,  drawings  and  specimens  as  may  be  ne- 
cessary and  proper  to  exemplify  and  elucidate  the  same  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
State  who  shall  lay  such  report  before  the  Legislature. 

SEC.  5.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  State 
Geologist  to  cause  to  be  represented  on  the  map  of  the  State  by  colors  and  other 
appropriate  means,  the  various  areas  occupied  by  the  different  geological  forma. 


298844 


IV 


tions  in  the  State,  and  to  mark  thereon  the  localities  of  the  respective  beds  or  de- 
posites  of  the  various  mineral  substances  discovered,  and  on  the  completion  of  the 
survey  to  compile  a  memoir  of  the  Geology  and  Mineralogy  of  the  State,  com- 
prising a  complete  account  of  the  leading  subjects  and  discoveries,  which  have  been 
embraced  in  the  survey. 

SEC.  6.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  it  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  the  said 
State  Geologist  to  forward  to  the  Secretary  of  the  State  from  time  to  time  during 
the  progress  of  said  survey  such  specimens  of  the  rocks,  ores,  coals,  soils,  fossils 
and  other  mineral  substances,  discovered  and  examined,  as  may  be  proper  and  ne- 
cessary to  form  a  complete  cabinet  collection  of  specimens  of  Geology  and  Min- 
eralogy of  the  State  5  and  the  said  Secretary  shall  cause  the  same  to  be  deposited 
in  proper  order  in  some  convenient  room  in  the  State  Capitol,  there  to  be  preserv- 
ed for  public  inspection. 

SEC.  7.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  That  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  into  effect 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  the  sum  of  two ,  thousand  dollars  is  hereby  annually  ap- 
propriated for  the  term  of  three  years  to  be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the 
Governor.  Provided  however,  That  the  salaries  of  the  said  State  Geologist  and 
his  assistant  shall  not  commence  until  they  shall  have  entered  upon  the  execution 
of  their  duties ;  and  upon  the  completion  of  said  survey  and  of  the  duties  con- 
nected therewith,  they  shall  wholly  cease  and  determine. 

MOSES  NORRIS,  Jr.,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
JAMES  M'K.  WILKINS,  President  of  the  Senate. 

Approved  June  24, 1839. 

JOHN  PAGE,  Governor. 


EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT. 

September,  10,  1839. 
CHARLES  T.  JACKSON,  was  Appointed  by  the  Governor,  State  Geologist. 


EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT. 

December  7, 1840. 
J.  D.  WHITNEY,  was  Appointed  Assistant  Geologist. 


Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court  con- 
vened, That  the  Secretary  of  State  be  directed  to  procure  ten  hundred  printed 
copies  of  Dr.  Jackson's  first  annual  report  upon  the  Geological  and  Mineralogical 
survey  of  the  State,  and  that  said  Secretary  have  the  same  in  readiness  for  distri- 
bution on  the  first  Wednesday  of  June  next. 

MOSES  NORRIS,  Jr.,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
JAMES  B.  CREIGHTON,  President  of  the  Senate. 
Approved  Dec.  10,  1840. 

JOHN  PAGE,  Governor. 


INTRODUCTION. 


IT  will  not  be  thought  improper,  at  the  commencement 
of  a  Geological  Survey  of  the  State,  to  make  a  few  intro- 
ductory remarks  concerning  the  nature  and  objects  of  such 
a  Survey ;  for  there  are  many  citizens  of  the  State  who 
are  not  so  fully  acquainted  with  the  subject  as  to  be  able 
to  form  a  just  idea  of  the  magnitude  and  importance  of 
the  work.  Those  who  are  familiar  with  the  science  and 
with  the  history  of  such  operations,  will  therefore  indulge 
us  in  such  elementary  explanations  as  may  be  needed  by 
those  to  whom  the  Science  of  Geology  is  unknown. 

A  Geological  Survey  comprises,  first,  an  examination  of 
the  nature  and  extent  of  the  different  kinds  of  rocks  which 
form  the  solid  basis  of  the  State.  Secondly,  an  account 
of  the  nature,  extent,  and  economical  value  of  the  useful 
substances  which  occur  in  the  earth  or  in  the  rocks. 
Thirdly,  it  accounts,  in  a  rational  manner,  for  the  phenom- 
ena that  present  themselves  in  the  structure  of  the  rocks 
and  the  associated  minerals. 

Under  these  general  heads  we  shall  proceed  to  examine 
the  different  rock  formations,  their  beds  and  veins  of  use- 
ful minerals,  and  at  the  close  of  our  remarks,  shall  inves- 
tigate the  nature  and  capability  of  soils,  and  the  best 
methods  of  preparing  compost  manures,  which  are  required 
for  their  most  successful  cultivation. 


** 

- 


6  INTRODUCTION. 


arising  from,  such  a  Survey  being  made  by 
the  authority  of  the  State. 


Were  Geological  Surveys  made  at  individual  expense, 
each  person  who  needed  such  service  employing  a  geolo- 
gist and  chemist,  the  expenditure  would  amount  to  an 
enormous  sum,  and  the  information  being  of  a  partial 
and  local  nature,  would  be  very  incomplete.  When, 
however,  the  cost  of  the  work  is  defrayed  from  the  pub- 
lic treasury,  and  the  surveys  carried  generally  over  the 
State,  the  expense  to  each  citizen  is  so  trifling  that  it  be- 
comes of  little  importance,  the  amount  per  annum  being 
less  than  a  cent  to  each  citizen.  At  the  same  time  a  more 
full  and  complete  account  is  obtained  of  the  natural  re- 
sources of  the  State,  the  localities  being  compared  with 
each  other,  so  that  all  unreasonable  expectations  are  check- 
ed, and  the  most  important  places  alone  become  objects  of 
economical  exploration.  Thus  when  a  small  deposit  on 
one  farm  is  alone  considered,  it  might  be  thought  too  val- 
uable unless  compared  with  one  more  extensive  that 
might  supersede  it  and  prevent  profitable  working  —  or  one 
locality  may  be  more  favorably  situated,  so  as  to  prevent 
others  from  competing  with  it  in  the  market. 

In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned  advantages,  we  may 
remark  that  a  State  Survey  is  public  property,  the  work 
being  done  by  command  of  the  whole  people,  through 
their  Representatives,  who  bring  back  to  them  a  report  of 
its  results.  Thus  no  one  individual  is  enabled  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  ignorance  of  others,  but  all  fare  alike,  so 
that  injurious  speculations  never  result  from  such  surveys, 
their  tendency  being  to  equalize  information  so  as  to  pre- 
vent them. 

A  survey  made  under  the  orders  of  Government  is  of 
the  highest  authority,  and  is  always  considered  good  evi- 
dence respecting  the  value  of  the  localities  which  are  ex- 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

plored.  The  Report  is  therefore  a  Document  of  no  small 
importance  to  the  citizens  of  the  State.  Such  Documents 
are  preserved  in  the  public  Archives,  and  will  be  referred 
to  hereafter  by  posterity,  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  sci- 
entific and  practical  knowledge  among  their  progenitors. 
It  becomes  us,  therefore,  to  carry  on  such  a  survey  in  a 
manner  commensurate  with  the  magnitude  and  importance 
of  its  object,  so  that  it  may  be  a  faithful  record  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  times. 

Geological  Surveys  are  called  for  by  the  general  increase 
of  knowledge  among  men ;  and  that  such  a  call  is  made, 
let  us  adduce  in  testimony  the  fact  that  no  less  than  twenty 
among  the  twenty-six  States  of  the  Union  have  either  made 
such  Surveys  or  have  them  now  in  progress. 

This  fact  is  a  most  striking  commentary  on  the  general 
progress  of  intelligence  throughout  the  country,  and  the 
most  decisive  evidence  of  the  general  belief  in  the  utility 
of  such  explorations. 

This  state  of  things  is  highly  creditable  to  the  com- 
munity ;  and  were  the  results  only  such  as  to  contribute 
to  the  general  advancement  of  science,  the  researches 
would  be  highly  useful,  and  the  spirit  which  prompted 
them  would  be  regarded  as  liberal,  and  as  indicative  of  a 
high  state  of  civilization.  When  we  look  to  the  impetus 
given  to  the  intellectual  powers  which  are  brought  to  bear 
upon  so  important  a  subject,  the  general  cultivation  of 
Geological  Science  cannot  fail  to  be  a  matter  of  congrat- 
ulation. Considering  these  advantages  as  merely  collate- 
ral, we  may  look  upon  the  practically  useful  results  that 
have  arisen  from  such  surveys  as  highly  important.  The 
true  resources  of  the  country  are  brought  forth  and  ren- 
dered available  to  all.  Not  only  useful  minerals  are  dis- 
covered, and  the  requisite  instructions  given  for  the  best 
methods  of  working  them,  but  a  vast  waste  in  absurd  re- 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

searches  for  ores  of  metals,  and  for  coal,  is  prevented,  by 
timely  notice  of  the  fact  that,  in  certain  localities,  such  ex- 
pectations are  vain. 

Agriculture  also  profits  from  Geological  Surveys,  by 
the  analytical  reseaches  which  are  made  to  determine  the 
nature  and  composition  of  soils ;  for  the  Geologist  indi- 
cates the  origin  and  distribution  of  the  matters  which  form 
their  substance,  while  the  Chemist  ascertains  their  exact 
composition. 

Then  having  discovered  the  nature  of  barren  and  of  fer- 
tile soils,  the  best  modes  of  improvement  of  the  poorer 
soils  are  ascertained,  and  it  often  happens  that  the  Geolog- 
ical Surveyor  can  point  out  deposits  of  natural  substances 
which  are  adapted  to  their  amelioration.  Thus  the  dis- 
covery of  Limestone,  Marl,  or  of  Peat  and  swamp  Muck, 
is  hailed  as  an  important  event  in  the  progress  of  the 
Survey. 

By  Chemical  researches  we  are  enabled  to  direct  the  far- 
mer how  to  improve  his  soils  in  the  most  rapid  and  certain 
manner,  and  how  to  form  the  cheapest  and  most  powerful 
composts ;  for  the  theory  of  the  management  of  these  mat- 
ters is  exclusively  within  the  domain  of  chemistry,  and  all 
is  uncertain  in  the  business  without  a  very  exact  knowl- 
edge of  that  science, 

By  mutual  exchanges  of  Reports,  each  State  may  pos- 
sess itself  of  a  knowledge  of  the  condition  of  the  others, 
and  the  General  Government  may  provide  itself  with  a 
very  valuable  mass  of  statistical  information.  Each  State 
as  a  partner  of  the  Confederation  gives  an  account  of  its 
resources,  and  it  will  be  seen  what  peculiar  advantages 
they  possess,  so  that  any  person  wishing  to  change  his 
residence  may  act  understandingly,  knowing  what  he 
can  enjoy  at  home  or  elsewhere. 

To  the  capitalist  such  information  is  of  inestimable  val- 
ue, since  he  may  learn  where  he  can  make  the  most  profit- 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

able  investments,  and  the  value  of  each  section  of  country 
will  be  properly  appreciated. 

Statistical  information  concerning  the  resources  of  each 
State  tends  to  increase  its  credit,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

Geology  has  done  much  to  remove  ancient  errors  and 
prejudices,  and  has  substituted  rational  information  in  their 
stead.  Rarely  do  we  hear  of  the  magical  divining  rod  by 
which  swindlers  gulled  the  ignorant.  Nor  do  we  so  fre- 
quently hear  of  coal  mines  in  Granite  rocks,  or  that  Iron 
Pyrites  or  Yellow  Mica  are  mistaken  for  Gold,  Silver,  or 
Brass. 

All  now  understand  that  science  and  labor  can  alone  re- 
veal to  us  the  existence  of  valuable  minerals,  and  that  the 
rules  of  the  art  are  founded  on  observation  and  experience, 
guided  by  the  light  of  science. 

Annual  Reports  will  be  made,  giving  an  account  of  the 
progress  of  the  work ;  and  when  the  Survey  is  completed, 
or  is  in  a  sufficiently  forward  state  to  warrant  the  at- 
tempt, a  general  or  complete  Report  will  be  drawn  up,  il- 
lustrated by  an  atlas  containing  a  colored  Geological  Map, 
with  sectional  profiles,  shewing  the  situation  of  the  rocks, 
elevations  and  depressions  of  the  surface  of  the  country, 
and  a  few  lithographic  drawings  of  remarkable  and  inter- 
esting scenery.  Where  required,  we  shall  also  give  plans 
of  mines,  furnaces,  lime  kilns,  and  such  other  diagrams  as 
may  be  useful. 

A  vast  amount  of  labor  is  yet  to  be  performed  before 
these  illustrations  can  be  drawn  up  in  a  manner  that  would 
be  creditable  to  the  State  and  to  the  Surveyor.  Many  sec- 
tions are  already  drawn,  but  they  would  be  incomprehen- 
sible before  the  completion  of  the  Geological  Map,  on 
which  the  limits  of  the  rocks  are  to  be  delineated. 

In  the  Chemical  department  we  have  been  most  dili- 
gently employed  during  the  winter,  and  the  present  Re- 
port will  contain  a  mass  of  important  information  concer- 

2 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

ning  the  composition  of  metalliferous  ores,  minerals,  and 
soils.  No  one,  unless  familiar  with  Analytical  Chemistry  r 
can  form  a  just  idea  of  the  difficulty  of  such  work,  and  of 
the  amount  of  labor  which  has  been  performed. 

During  the  survey  a  great  number  of  Astronomical 
measurements  were  made  to  determine  the  latitudes  and 
longitudes  of  places  in  the  State.  These  observations 
were  required  for  the  projection  of  a  true  map,  and  will  be 
reported  when  the  map  is  completed.  Barometrical  ob- 
servations have  been  made  in  various  parts  of  the  State, 
along  our  lines  of  sections  and  by  comparison  with  the 
observations  made  at  Portsmouth  at  the  same  hours,  we 
are  enabled  to  calculate  the  heights  of  each  place  where 
we  had  observed  our  instruments. 

In  order  to  have  these  measurements  made  correctly, 
Mr.  Brewster  of  Portsmouth,  kindly  volunteered,  to  observe 
a  Barometer  which  had  been  compared  with  ours.  His  ta- 
bles are  herewith  presented.  Prof.  Young  of  Dartmouth 
College,  also  agreed  to  assist  us  by  keeping  a  record  of  his 
Barometer  and  Thermometer  at  stated  times.  He  has 
presented  us  with  his  results,  which  will  be  appended  to 
this  report.  If  suitable  care  is  taken  Barometrical  meas- 
urements may  be  made  with  sufficient  exactness  for  all 
practical  purposes  in  Geology  •  for  the  extremes  of  error 
would  not  be  visible  on  a  sectional  profile,  since  the  finest 
hair  line  would  cover  them.  We  occasionally  resort  to 
the  Theodolite  or  to  the  Sextant  and  artificial  horizon 
in  order  to  measure  the  height  of  a  mountain,  but  after 
long  experience  find  that  more  dependence  can  be  placed 
on  the  Barometer,  for  atmospheric  refraction  varies  so 
much  in  a  mountainous  country,  that  the  images  of  moun- 
tains are  constantly  varying  in  height  as  seen  through  the 
Telescope  of  any  instrument  for  Trigonometrical  meas- 
urements. 

Observations  on  the  variation  of  the  magnetic  needle 


INTRODUCTION.  11 

have  been  made  in  several  parts  of  the  State,  and  they 
will  be  continued  as  we  find  time  to  attend  to  the  subject. 
The  dip  of  the  magnetic  needle  will  also  be  observed  in 
the  valleys  and  on  the  summits  of  mountains,  as  well  as  in 
each  county  of  the  State.  These  observations  will  prove 
valuable  to  the  land  surveyors,  who  use  the  Circumfereri- 
ter  in  their  work. 

During  the  past  summer,  I  was  assisted  in  the  survey  by 
my  pupils,  Messrs.  J.  D.  Whitney,  Moses  B.  Williams  and 
E.  Baker,  who  generously  volunteered  their  services  to 
the  State,  and  paid  their  own  expenses  while  employed 
in  the  work.  Mr.  Baker  travelled  with  me,  and  his  la- 
bors are  necessarily  incorporated  with  mine.  Messrs. 
Williams  and  Whitney  engaged  to  measure  sectional  pro- 
files across  the  State  in  two  diagonals,  and  have  accom- 
plished their  work  in  a  satisfactory  mariner.  Their  report 
on  the  routes  which  they  pursued,  will  be  herewith  ap- 
pended, and  the  sectional  profiles  will  appear  hereafter. 

At  the  close  of  the  field-work  we  arranged  the  speci- 
mens of  minerals  that  had  been  collected,  in  the  State 
House  at  Concord,  where  they  will  remain  for  the  use  ot 
the  people. 

Three  entire  suits  of  specimens  are  put  up  in  the  Cabi- 
net, and  I  would  respectfully  suggest  that  one  set  be  sent 
to  the  Portsmouth  Athenaeum,  and  one  to  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege, the  remaining  portion  being  sufficient  for  the  use  of 
the  Legislature. 

When  we  had  effected  the  arrangement  of  the  minerals, 
Mr.  Whitney  was  appointed  my  assistant  in  the  Labora- 
tory. He  has  been  assiduously  engaged  with  me  in  the 
analysis  of  the  minerals  and  soils  of  New  Hampshire.  We 
have  also  been  aided  by  Mr.  Williams,  as  a  volunteer. 
The  latter  gentleman  is  to  aid  us  as  Assistant  Geologist  in 
the  field  during  the  next  summer. 

I  am  happy  in  saying  that  wherever  we  have  travelled 


INTRODUCTION. 

in  New  Hampshire,  we  have  been  invariably  received  with 
kindness,  and  every  attention  has  been  shewn  us  that  could 
have  been  desired.  Not  unfrequently  the  towns  had,  be- 
fore our  arrival,  appointed  committees  to  aid  us  in  the  work, 
and  sometimes  a  large  number  of  citizens  have  gone  forth 
with  us  among  the  mountains,  to  assist  in  collecting  spe- 
cimens of  minerals  for  examination. 


ELEMENTARY  PRINCIPLES  OF  GEOLOGY. 


SUPER-POSITION    OF    ROCKS. 

The  rocks  which  form  the  crust  of  the  earth  have  been 
examined  by  Geologists,  who  have  classified  them  accord- 
ing to  their  order  of  super-position  and  origin,  or  by  their 
mineral  and  fossil  contents.  Occasionally  it  has  been 
thought  proper  to  designate  certain  groups  of  rocks  by 
names  referring  to  localities,  where  it  was  supposed 
their  most  characteristic  features  were  presented.  f 

Some  rocks  have  evidently  been  in  a  melted  state,  and 
were  erupted  from  the  interior  of  the  globe  :  others  were 
deposited  by  water,  which  held  the  particles  of  pre-exis- 
tent  rocks  in  suspension,  or  more  rarely  in  solution.  Some 
of  the  rocks  which  were  originally  deposited  by  water, 
subsequently  underwent  changes  in  structure  and  compo- 
sition, by  the  influence  of  heat  proceeding  from  the  erup- 
ted rocks. 

Hence  we  have  rocks  produced  by  fire  which  are  desig- 
nated as  of  igneous  origin,  Plutonic  or  erupted  rocks,  while 
those  which  were  deposited  by  water  are  styled  rocks  of 
aqueous  or  Neptunian  origin,  and  those  deposited  by  water, 
and  subsequently  changed  in  structure  by  fire,  are  named 
metamorphic  rocks. 

Another  method  has  also  been  proposed,  namely,  to  di- 
vide rocks  into  two  great  classes,  without  reference  to  any 


14  ROCK    FORMATIONS. 

theory  of  their  origin  j  and  those  two  classes  are  the  un- 
stratified  and  the  stratified  rocks.  The  unstratified  rocks 
generally  are  those  of  igneous  origin,  while  those  which 
are  stratified  were  deposited  by  water. 

At  or  near  their  junction,  we  find  the  altered  or  metam- 
orphic  rocks. 

This  method  is  a  very  good  one  for  the  general  groups, 
but  more  details  are  required  for  the  full  elucidation  of  the 
characters  of  the  subordinate  divisions. 

If  we  consider  the  rock  called  Gneiss  as  a  point  of  de- 
parture, we  shall  find  above  it  all  the  stratified  rocks  ar- 
ranged in  their  order  of  deposition  ;  and  below  it  we  have 
the  unstratified  rocks,  and  the  matter  which  produced 
them. 

By  upheaving  force  the  matters  forming  the  unstratified 
rocks  burst  open  the  gneiss  and  many  of  the  strata  resting 
upon  it,  and  the  molten  rock  pushed  up  from  below,  filled 
the  chasms,  or  flowed  through  them  and  spread  on  their 
surface.  It  is  easy,  then,  by  ascertaining  what  strata  were 
burst  open  by  veins  or  dykes,  to  determine  with  some  de- 
gree of  accuracy  their  comparative  age. 


ROCK    FORMATIONS. 

The  term  formation  is  applied  in  Geology  to  designate 
groups  of  rocks,  formed  under  certain  conditions  of  the 
globe,  or  their  relative  ages.  Thus  we  have  the  primary 
formation  or  rocks  that,  were  first  produced.  They  are 
regarded  as  the  oldest  in  the  series,  and  were  produced 
anterior  to  the  existence  of  animals  or  plants,  no  traces  of 
organized  beings  having  ever  been  discovered  in  them. 
It  is  supposed  that  the  earth  at  the  epoch  of  their  forma- 
tion was  not  in  a  suitable  condition  to  allow  of  the  exist- 
ence of  living  beings  on  its  surface. 


ROCK    FORMATIONS.  15 

The  rocks  belonging  to  this  group  are  generally  of  a 
crystalline  character,  and  bear  the  impress  of  igneous  ac- 
tion. Resting  upon  the  primary  group,  is  the  next  class 
of  rocks,  originally  named  by  Lehman,  the  secondary  for- 
mation, but  subsequently  Werner  proposed  to  designate 
the  lower  series  by  the  name  of  transition,  indicating  that 
they  formed  a  gradation  from  the  primary  to  the  seconda- 
ry, or  that  the  world  was  undergoing  a  transition  from  an 
uninhabitable  to  a  habitable  state,  for  in  these  rocks  we  find  , 
the  first  remains  of  organized  beings.  There  has  been 
much  discussion  as  to  the  propriety  of  this  term,  and  ma- 
ny Geologists  prefer  to  omit  it  and  to  return  to  the  numer- 
ical arrangement  proposed  by  Lehman,  calling  the  transi- 
tion rocks  the  older  secondary.  This  method  has  the  ad- 
vantage of  keeping  the  numerical  names  of  the  upper 
formations,  as  they  now  are,  allowing  the  general  introduc- 
tion of  such  an  arrangement  is  to  be  adopted. 

The  older  secondary  or  transition  rocks  were  deposited 
by  water,  and  were  originally  in  the  condition  of  fine 
mud,  sand  and  gravel  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  This 
must  be  evident  from  the  fact  that  the  perfect  forms  of 
marine  shells  and  crustaceous  animals  are  preserved  in  its 
mass.  The  fossils  called  Trilobites  are  characteristic  of 
this  formation. 

This  group  of  rocks  extends  as  high  as  the  coal  meas- 
ures, or  the  rocks  which  contain  coal. 

We  then  reach  the  upper  secondary  group,  which  ex- 
tends to  the  top  of  the  chalk  deposits.  The  secondary 
rocks  are  filled  with  an  infinity  of  organic  remains, 
both  of  animals  and  vegetables.  In  this  formation  our  vast 
deposits  of  bituminous  coals  and  anthracites  occur,  over- 
laid and  underlaid  by  shales  containing  impressions  and 
casts  of  numerous  plants,  analogous  to  the  genera  which 
grow  only  within  the  tropics,  but  whose  species,  like  all 
those  embedded  in  this  and  the  older  rocks  are  extinct. 


16  ROCK    FORMATIONS. 

Over  the  coal  formation,  we  find  the  new  red  sandstone, 
lias  limestone,  oolite  and  wealden  rocks  and  chalk.  At 
this  point  the  secondary  formation  ceases,  and  another 
class  is  formed,  which  consist  of  clay,  calcareous  sand  and 
marl,  the  strata  of  which  are  filled  with  myriads  of  ma- 
rine and  fresh  water  shells,  and  with  the  remains  of  plants 
and  of  animals  of  the  higher  orders. 

This  deposit  is  called  the  tertiary  formation.  The  ter- 
tiary rests  upon  any  kind  of  rock  that  happened  to  be  up- 
permost at  the  epoch  of  its  deposition. 

The  primary  formation  appears  to  compose  the  principal 
portion  of  the  State,  so  far  as  the  rocks  of  New-Hamp- 
shire have  been  examined.  In  some  limited  districts, 
we  have  found  altered  argillaceous  slates  belonging  to  the 
Cambrian  System  of  Prof.  Sedgwick. 

Intruded  dykes  of  greenstone  trap,  also  abound. 

A  few  limited  patches  of  tertiary,  a  deposit  of  clay  con- 
taining marine  shells,  also  occur  in  the  vinicity  of  Ports- 
mouth. 

The  primary  rocks  frequently  contain  veins  and  beds  of 
limestones  and  metalliferous  ores.  The  stratified  rocks  of 
this  class,  are  always  highly  inclined  to  the  horizon,  the 
angle  of  the  dip  being  from  40  to  80  degrees. 

Owing  to  this  uptilted  state  of  the  strata,  it  is  easy  to 
inspect  the  order  of  superposition,  and  to  discover  the  dif- 
ferent veins  and  beds  which  are  included  in  the  rock.  This 
position  also  aifords  admirable  facilities  for  measuring  the 
thickness  of  the  strata. 


Granite. 

Granite  is  the  lowest  rock  which  has  been  reached  by 
the  deepest  mines,  and  it  also  forms  the  peaks  of  many 
lofty  mountains. 


ROCK    FORMATIONS.  17 

It  is  the  foundation  rock  on  which  all  the  more  recent 
formations  rest,  and  many  of  the  superincumbent  strata  are 
made  up  of  its  fragments.  It  is  a  rock  of  igneous  origin, 
and  has  no  stratified  structure. 

When  granite  is  found  cutting  through  other  rocks,  the 
action  of  intense  heat  may  often  be  observed  at  the  junction 
and  to  a  considerable  distance  beyond  the  points  of  contact. 

When  it  intrudes  through  slate,  that  rock  is  found  to  be 
hard  and  flinty  at  or  near  the  junction,  and  the  strata 
marks  are  generally  effaced. 

If  the  eruption  took  place  through  compact  or  shell 
limestone,  the  carbonate  of  lime  is  observed  to  become 
crystalline  or  white  in  the  vicinity  of  the  granite.  By  a 
series  of  such  observations,  the  most  distinguished  Geolo- 
gists have  satisfied  themselves  that  granite  was  thrown  up 
in  an  intensely  heated  or  molten  state.  By  slow  cooling 
of  a  semi-fluid  mass  of  melted  rock,  crystals  are  formed 
in  its  midst,  and  in  cases  where  the  mass  of  matter  was  of 
great  bulk,  the  cooling  took  place  so  slowly  as  to  allow 
very  large  and  perfect  crystals  to  form.  So  in  granite,  we 
find  the  rock  to  be  made  up  entirely  of  crystals,  merely 
held  together  by  contact  and  interlacement. 

SIENITE  differs  from  granite  only  by  the  substitution  of 
hornblende  in  the  place  of  mica,  but  it  sometimes  contains 
more  felspar. 

Minerals  entering  into  the  composition  of  Granite  rocks. 

Three  different  minerals  enter  into  the  composition  of 
regular  granite.  They  are  quartz,  feldspar,  and  mica.  In 
addition,  there  are  frequently  a  number  of  other  species, 
which  are  called  accidental  or  associated  minerals.  Some- 
times one  of  the  essential  ingredients  of  the  rock  may  be  ab- 
sent, and  in  such  cases  it  is  generally  replaced  by  some  oth- 
er. Hence  there  are  a  great  number  of  varieties  of  gran- 
ite, such  as  I  shall  have  occasion  to  describe  hereafter. 

3 


18  ROCK    FORMATIONS 

QJJARTZ  is  a  glassy  looking  substance,  either  trans- 
parent and  colorless,  or  shaded  by  various  tints,  from  the 
presence  of  metallic  oxides.  When  pare,  it  consists  en- 
tirely of  silex.  It  is  then  altogether  infusible  by  the  most 
intense  heat  of  the  furnace,  or  by  the  common  blow-pipe 
flame. 

It  is  hard  as  common  flint,  and  scratches  glass  readily. 
When  crystallized,  it  generally  is  found  in  the  form  of  a  six 
sided  prism,  terminated  by  six  sided  pyramids  at  each  end 
of  the  prism,  if  the  crystal  formed  in  a  space  where  the 
extremities  were  free  from  the  rock  ;  but  more  frequently 
one  end  of  the  crystal  is  found  implanted  firmly  in  the 
rock  where  it  crystalized,  and  then  only  the  free  extremi- 
ty is  perfect. 

The  primary  and  simplest  form  of  quartz  crystal  is  rare- 
ly found.  It  is  a  rhomboid  having  angles  of  94°  15'  and 
85°  45X  Sometimes  we  can  cleave  or  split  a  secondary 
crystal  so  as  to  obtain  this  form. 

The  specific  gravity  of  quartz  is  2.645,  water  being  con- 
sidered as  unity. 

When  struck  against  steel,  quartz  tears  off  small  frag- 
ments of  the  metal,  which  take  fire  in  the  air,  owing  to 
the  heat  produced  by  concussion,  and  the  rapid  oxidation 
of  the  iron  or  steel  by  the  oxigen  of  the  atmosphere.  It 
will  therefore  answer  for  striking  fire  like  flint. 

When  two  pieces  of  quartz  are  struck  together  in  the 
dark,  a  faint  flash  of  light  is  seen,  which  is  not  fire,  but  is 
an  electric  phenomenon  called  phosphorescence.  The  rock 
is  found,  upon  friction,  to  have  become  positively  electric, 
but  the  electricity  is  preserved  only  for  a  moment. 

Pure  quartz  consists  of  48.05  per  cent  of  a  brown  me- 
talloid substance  called  silicium,  and  51.95  per  cent  of  ox- 
igen. 

Common  sand  is  composed  of  quartz  or  silex.  It  also 
enters  into  the  composition  of  a  great  number  of  minerals, 


ROCK    FORMATIONS. 


19 


and  is  even  found  to  constitute  a  certain  proportion  of  all 
plants. 

Q,uartz  is  used  in  the  arts  for  various  purposes.  Pure 
and  transparent  crystals  are  frequently  cut  by  lapidaries  and 
opticians  into  ornaments  and  into  lenses  for  spectacles. 
The  spectacles  called  Scotch  pebble  are  made  of  transpa- 
rent quartz.  Some  colored  varieties  of  quartz  are  highly 
valued  in  jewelry,  those  of  a  dark,  smoky  yellow  being 
sold  for  topaz.  The  fine  transparent  varieties,  when  cut 
and  painted  on  the  back,  resemble  precious  stones. 

Q,uartz  is.  used  for  making  glass,  for  when  it  is  ground 
into  a  powder,  and  is  mixed  with  proper  proportions  of 
potash  and  red  lead,  it  melts  at  a  white  heat  into  flint  glass, 
and  where  no  red  lead  is  used,  but  lime  is  substituted,  it 
forms  a  white  and  hard  glass,  which  withstands  the  action 
of  fire  and  of  chemical  reagents  much  better  than  flint 

glass. 

In  common  plate  glass,  for  the  manufacture  of  mirrors, 
soda  is  used  instead  of  potash  as  a  flux. 

If  too  large  a  proportion  of  alkali  is  introduced  into  glass, 
it  is  liable  to  dissolve  in  water,  and  advantage  is  taken  of 
this  property  to  form  a  soluble  compound  which  has  the 
property  of  preventing  the  combustion  of  wood,  which  is 
impregnated,  or  covered  with  a  crust  of  it ;  for  the  sol- 
uble glass  melting  when  the  wood  is  heated,  coats  its  fibres 
and  prevents  their  contact  with  the  air,  so  that  they  can- 
not burn. 

Granular  quartz  is  very  useful  for  the  manufacture  of 
sand-paper,  and  it  is  largely  employed  for  this  purpose  in 
New  Hampshire.  It  is  also  converted  into  glass  at  the 
New  Hampshire  Glass  Works  in  Keene.  Pulverized  gran- 
ular quartz  is  also  mixed  with  white  lead,  and  is  found  to 
be  useful  for  painting  exposed  parts  of  buildings,  for  the 
wood-work  will  not  readily  yield  to  the  penknife  when 
encrusted  with  quartz. 


20  ROCK    FORMATIONS. 

The  whtte  substance  found  beneath  peat-bogs  and  in 
swampy  places,  which  is  frequently  mistaken  for  marl,  con- 
sists generally  of  silex  combined  with  water  and  some  veg- 
etable juices  from  the  peat.  This  silicious  substance  is 
composed  of  collections  of  minute  infusorial  animalculse, 
which  originally  lived  in  the  stagnant  waters.  They  have 
been  fully  described  by  Count  Erhenberg  and  by  Prof  r 
Bailey.  Silicious  rocks  abound  in  New  Hampshire,  and 
the  soils  partake  largely  of  the  nature  of  the  rocks. 

Felspar. 

This  mineral  is  not  so  brilliant  as  quartz,  nor  is  it  so 
hard.  It  is  generally  of  a  white  or  reddish  color,  the  hues 
being  due  to  the  presence  of  metallic  oxides,  which  are  ac- 
cidental admixtures. 

Felspar  is  divided  into  two  varieties,  which  are  distin- 
guished by  the  alkalies  contained  in  them. 

That  containing  Potash  is  called  Orthose,  and  the  vari- 
ety called  Albite  contains  soda.  Orthose  is  the  common 
felspar.  Its  characters  are  as  follows :  The  primary  form 
of  the  crystal  is  a  doubly  oblique  prism,  whose  angles  are 
120°  and  60°  on  the  sides,  and  the  inclination  of  the  planes 
on  the  base  is  112°  and  68°.  Its  specific  gravity  is  from 
2.39  to  2.58.  It  scratches  glass,  but  yields  to  the  knife. 
When  heated  to  whiteness  before  the  blow-pipe,  it  melts 
into  a  white  enamel. 

A  pure  crystallized  specimen,  analyzed  by  Berthier,  yiel- 
ded in  100  parts — 

Silex  64.20 

Alumina  18.40 

Potash  16.95 

Lime  traces 

99.55 


ROCK    FORMATIONS.  21 

Flesh  colored  felspar,  analyzed  by  Rose,  was  found  to 
contain — 

Silex  66.75 

Alumina  17.50 

Potash  12.00 

Lime  1.25 

Oxide  of  Iron  0.75 

99.25 

Felspar  undergoes  a  gradual  decomposition  when  expos- 
ed to  the  action  of  air,  water,  and  to  vegetable  rootlets,  and 
the  mould  of  soils.  The  carbonic  acid  gas  of  mineral  wa- 
ters and  of  the  atmosphere  acts  upon  it,  so  that  the  alkali 
is  gradually  removed,  and  the  mineral  crumbles  to  a  fine 
powder. 

When  the  mineral  is  moist,  this  action  is  quite  manifest ; 
but  the  dry  rock  is  not  liable  to  rapid  decomposition,  but 
endures  for  ages  untarnished  in  its  lustre. 

Felspar  is  the  principal  source  whence  plants  obtain  the 
potash  which  exists  in  their  juices  and  solid  substance,  and 
their  operations  are  the  only  economical  methods  known 
of  eliminating  this  alkali. 

Felspar  forms  by  its  decomposition  a  very  fine  unctuous 
clay,  known  under  the  name  of  Kaolin.  It  is  highly  val- 
ued for  making  Porcelain  or  China  ware. 

The  mineral  in  its  undecomposed  state  is  also  employed 
for  this  purpose,  and  is  known  in  China  under  the  name 
Petuntze.  In  order  to  render  the  felspar  suitable  for  this 
purpose  it  must  be  heated  red  hot,  then  it  is  to  be  thrown  in- 
to water,  after  which  it  crushes  readily  and  may  be  ground 
into  a  fine  powder,  which  will  form  a  paste  suitable  for  the 
potters  wheel.  It  is  generally  allowed  to  remain  for  two 
or  more  years  in  a  moist  cellar,  in  order  to  become  thor- 
oughly decomposed,  and  then  it  is  more  plastic  and  duc- 
tile. 


22  ROCK    FORMATIONS. 

When  formed  into  the  shape  desired,  the  paste  is  first 
dried  slowly  and  then  is  baked  into  ware  called  biscuit, 
after  which  it  is  painted,  glazed,  burnt  or  semi-fused  into 
fine  porcelain  ware. 


Albite. 

This  variety  of  felspar  is  generally  of  a  pure  white  col- 
or, and  is  less  transparent  than  the  orthose.  It  crystallizes 
in  the  form  of  an  oblique  prism,  the  base  being  an  oblique 
angled  parallelogram,  having  three  cleavages  whose  angles 
are  118°  and  62°,  93°  30'  and  86°  30',  116°  and  65',  the 
most  brilliant  of  which  is  parallel  with  the  base. 

Sp.  gr. — 2.61.  It  scratches  glass,  but  yields  to  the 
knife.  It  contains  no  water.  Before  the  blow-pipe  it  fu- 
ses into  a  white  enamel. 

The  albite  of  Finland  analyzed  by  Tengstrom  con- 
sists of 

Silex  67.99 

Alumina  19.61 

Soda  11.12 

Lime  0.66 

Oxide  of  Manganese        0.47 
Oxide  of  Iron  0.23 

Cleavlandite,  so  named  in  honor  of  Prof.  Cleavland  of 
Bowdoin  College,  is  a  variety  of  albite  containing  less  so- 
da than  exists  in  the  specimen  above  mentioned. 

The  Cleavelandite  of  Chesterfield,  Mass.,  yielded,  ac- 
cording to  the  analysis  of  Stroymeyer, 

Silex  70.68 

Alumina  19.80 

Soda  9.06 

Lime  0.23 

Ox.  Mang.  and  Iron        0.11 


ROCK    FORMATIONS. 


23 


Another  variety  of  felspar  has  also  been  described  un- 
der the  name  of  pericline,  owing  to  its  ready  cleavage  on 
all  the  planes  of  the  crystal.  It  contains  both  alkalies, 
potash  and  soda. 

According  to  an  analysis  by  Gmelin,  it  consists  of 

Silex  67.94 

Alumina  18.93 

Soda  9.98 

Potash  2.41 

Lime  0.15 

The  soda  feldspars  have  not  yet  been  used  to  any  extent 
in  the  arts.  They  abound  in  New-Hampshire,  where  the 
purest  kinds  may  be  obtained  in  any  quantities  desired. 
Felspar  has  been  artificially  produced  in  the  furnace,  and 
there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  it  originated  as  before 
mentioned  from  crystallization  in  the  molten  mass,  which 
formed  the  granite  rocks  by  crystallization. 

MICA.  This  mineral  is  also  an  essential  constituent  of 
granite.  It  is  easily  recognized  by  its  brilliant  laminae, 
which  split  readily  into  thin  leaves,  when  tried  by  the  pen- 
knife. It  is  easily  distinguished  from  talc  by  its  elasticity 
and  its  want  of  an  unctious  feel  when  rubbed  by  the  fin- 
gers, the  latter  characters  belonging  to  talc.  Mica  splits  into 
laminae  of  extreme  delicacy,  the  thinnest  of  which  are  but 
1-10000  of  an  inch  in  thickness.  It  is,  when  pure,  per- 
fectly transparent  and  colorless,  but  there  are  varieties 
which  are  colored  by  metallic  oxides,  and  possess  various 
shades  of  red,  green,  brown  and  black  colors.  When  in  a 
state  of  decomposition,  it  frequently  presents  a  rich  yel- 
low color,  and  is  sometimes  mistaken  by  those  who  are  un- 
acquainted with  minerals,  for  native  gold. 

On  examining  blocks  of  granite  of  various  shades,  it 
will  be  found  generally,  that  the  colors  are  produced  by 
the  different  tints  and  proportions  of  the  mica,  which  they 
contain.  In  some  varieties,  however,  the  felspar  is  strong- 


24  ROCK    FORMATIONS. 

ly  colored,  and  in  the  red  granites  is  the  predominant  min- 
eral and  coloring  ingredient.     Our  common  granites  how- 
ever more  frequently  owe  their  colors  to  the  mica. 
Berzelius  divides  mica  into  three  species,  viz  : 
1st.     Mica  with  a  Magnesian  base. 
2d.         "         "    "  Potash  base. 
3d.         "         "    "  Potash  and  Lithia  base. 
There  are  many  varieties  of  mica  in  New-Hampshire, 
some  of  which  are  different  from  those  which  have  been 
analyzed  and  described.     They  will  be  examined  and  no- 
ticed hereafter. 

The  late  Dr.  Turner  of  London,  analyzed  two  varieties 
of  mica  from  Cornwall,  and  obtained  the  following  $e- 
sults  : 

Brown  Mica.  Grey  Mica. 

Silex  40.06  50.82 

Alumina  22.90  21.33 

Prot  Oxide  of  Iron       27.06  9.08 

Prot  Ox.  of  Manganese  1.79 
Fluoric  acid  2.71  4.81 

Potash  4.30  8.86 

Lithia  2.00  4.05 


100.82  99.95 

A  common  variety  of  granite  consisting  of  three-sixths 

felspar,  two-sixths  quartz  and  one  sixth  mica,  according 

to  De  la  Beche,  will  consist  of 

Silica  73.04 

Alumina  18.83 

Potash  8.51 

Magnesia  0.83 

Lime  0.44 

Oxide  of  Iron  1.73 

Oxide  Manganese  0.10 

Fluoric  acid  0.18 


GRANITE.  25 

A  more  common  variety  of-  granite,  consisting  of  two- 
fifths  quartz,  two-fifths  felspar  and  one  fifth  mica,  will  con- 
sist of  the  following  ingredients  : 

Silica  74.84    . 

Alumina  12.80 

Potash  7.48 

Magnesia  0.99 

Lime  0.37 

Oxide  of  Iron  1.93 

Oxide  of  Manganese         0. 12 

Fluoric  acid  0.21 

To  which  a  small  proportion  of  lithia  may  be  added, 
when  the  mica  contains  that  alkali. 

On  comparing  the  composition  of  the  granite  soils  with 
the  above  analysis,  a  remarkable  resemblance  in  composi- 
tion will  be  noted. 

It  will  be  observed,  however,  that  some  of  the  ingredients 
are  exhausted  from  long  cultivated  soils,  especially  the  al- 
kaline and  earthy  ingredients  which  form  soluble  combina- 
tions with  the  vegetable  acids  of  soils,  and  are  thus  taken 
up  by  the  rootlets  of  plants.  A  large  proportion  of  oxide 
of  iron  is  also  found  in  soils,  and  this  may  have  been  de- 
rived from  the  oxidation  of  iron  pyrites,  (or  the  bi-sul- 
phuret  of  iron.) 

In  many  cases  we  are  enabled  to  replenish  the  soil  with 
the  ingredients  that  have  been  removed  from  them  by  this 
process. 

Wood  ashes  contains  a  large  proportion  of  potash  and 
lime,  hence  this  substance  is  found  to  be  very  useful  on 
old  worn  out  sandy  soils. 

May  not  pulverized  felspar,  also  answer  a  useful  purpose, 
since  it  contains,  generally,  more  than  twelve  per  cent,  of 
alkali,  and  a  small  proportion  of  lime  ?  Its  action  would 
necessarily  be  slow,  for  time  would  be  required  for  its 
complete  decomposition. 

4 


26  MINERALS. 

We  have  now  described  the  essential  ingredients  of  gran- 
ite rocks,  and  may  devote  a  few  lines  to  a  description  of 
some  of  the  more  common  accidental  minerals  which  it 
contains. 

Garnets,  black  tourmaline,  beryls  and  iron  pyrites  are 
among  the  most  common  of  the  minerals  which  occur  in 
that  rock. 

Garnets  occur  in  red  or  brownish  red  crystals,  having 
their  primary  form  the  rhombic  dodecahedron,  and  with 
secondary  planes  produced  by  replacements  of  the  edges  of 
the  primary  crystal. 

Its  Sp.  Gr.  is  from  3.90  to  4.236. 
It  melts  before  the  blow-pipe  into  a  black  globule  which 
is  generally  magnetic,  owing  to  the  presence  of  the  prot- 
oxide of  iron. 

The  precious  garnet  of  Bohemia  consists,  according  to 
the  analysis  by  Vaquelin,  of 

Silica  36.0 

Alumina  22.0 

Prot-Ox.  Iron  36.8 

Lime  3.0 

97.8 

Finely  crystalized  garnets  occur  abundantly  in  the  rocks 
of  New-Hampshire,  but  they  rarely  possess  a  sufficiently 
rich  color  to  render  them  valuable  in  jewelry. 

There  are  numerous  species  and  varieties  of  garnets 
which  possess  different  colors,  according  to  the  nature  and 
proportions  of  the  metallic  oxides  which  they  contain. 

Thus  a  light  green  variety  contains  a  very  large  propor- 
tion of  lime,  and  but  little  oxide  of  iron,  is  called  from  its 
color,  grossular  (or  gooseberry 'green  garnet.) 

The  black  garnet,  or  melanite,  owes  its  dark  color  to  the 
presence  of  a  large  proportion  of  the  per-oxide  of  iron. 

Spessartine  or  manganesian  garnet  is  highly  charged 


MINERALS    IN    PRIMARY    ROCKS.  27 

with  prot-oxide  of  manganese,  to  which  its  color  is  part- 
ly due. 

TOURMALINE.  This  mineral  presents  a  great  number  of 
varieties,  which  possess  different  colors,  owing  to  the  re- 
placement of  one  metallic  oxide  by  another,  and  by  their 
variable  mixture. 

The  essential  ingredients  may  be  stated  in  general  terms 
to  be  silex,  alumina,  and  boracic  acid  with  different  metal- 
lic oxides. 

The  most  common  variety  is  the  black  tourmaline,  com- 
monly called  schorl.  It  abounds  in  the  primary  rocks, 
and  is  sometimes  mistaken  for  coal,  on  account  of  its  ap- 
parent resemblance  to  anthracite.  The  want  of  combus- 
tibility is,  however,  sufficient  to  distinguish  it  from  that 
substance. 

Black  tourmaline  consists,  according  to  Gmelin,  of 
Silex  37.65 

Alumina  33.46 

Potash  and  Soda  2.55 

Magnesia  10.98 

Oxide  of  Iron  9.38 

Boracic  acid  3.83 

It  melts  with  difficulty  before  the  blow-pipe,  and  forms 
a  brown  or  black  enamel. 

Its  specific  gravity  is  from  3  to  3.43. 
It  scratches  quartz  but  is  softer  than  topaz. 
Some  varieties  of  the  tourmaline  are  strongly  electric 
when  heated. 

BERYL  is  an  abundant  mineral  in  New-Hampshire,  and 
occurs  in  granite  rocks.  The  largest  specimens  known  in 
the  world,  were  obtained  from  Acworth.  Smaller  but 
very  perfect  crystals  are  found  in  Grafton  and  in  Alstead. 

Beryl  is  a  variety  of  emerald,  and  differs  from  that  gem 
only  in  the  want  of  the  rich  green  color  due  to  a  minute 
quantity  of  chromic  oxide. 


28 


MINERALS. 


Beryl  of  Siberia,  analyzed  by  Klaprotk,  consists  of 
Silica  66.45 

Alumina  16.75 

Glucina  15.50 

Oxide  of  Iron  0.60 

The  Emerald  of  Peru  consists  of 

Silica  68.50 

Alumina  15.75 

Glucina  12.50 

Oxide  of  Chrome  0.30 

Oxide  of  Iron  1.00 

Beryl  crystallizes  like  the  emerald  in  the  form  of  six 
sided  prisms,  terminated  by  plane  summits.  The  ter- 
minal edges  and  angles  are  not  unfrequently  replaced  by 
tangent  planes  which  rarely  cover  the  plane  termination. 
Its  specific  gravity  is  2.7. 

It  scratches  quartz  with  difficulty,  and  is  scratched  by 
the  topaz. 

It  melts  with  difficulty  before  the  blow-pipe  flame  into 
vesicular  glass.  In  another  section  of  this  Report  will  be 
seen  an  analysis  of  the  Beryl  from  New-Hampshire. 

IRON  PYRITES,  or  the  Bi-sulphuret  of  Iron,  is  a  very  com- 
mon mineral,  and  is  often  mistaken  by  persons  unacquaint- 
ed with  minerals,  for  Gold,  Silver  or  Brass,  according  to  a 
the  accidental  tints  which  it  may  possess. 

It  has  generally  a  whitish  gold  yellow  color,  crystalli- 
zes in  right  square  prisms,  nearly  aprOximating  to  the  cube 
or  in  cubic  forms.    Its  specific  gravity  varies  from  4.6  to  5. 
When  heated  before  the  blow-pipe,  it  burns  with  a  blue 
flame,  and  the  odour  of  burning  sulphur  is  perceived. 

The  globule  remaining  after  fusion  upon  charcoal,  is  the 
proto-sulphuret  of  Iron,  and  is  strongly  magnetic.  The 
globule  is  not  malleable,  but  breaks  into  brilliant  fragments 
of  a  white  color,  having  a  metallic  lustre.  If  a  little  di- 
luted sulphuric  acid  is  poured  upon  its  powder,  the  odor  of 


MINERALS.  29 

sulphuretted  hydrogen  is  at  once  perceived.     By  these 
tests  any  one  may  learn  to  distinguish  this  mineral. 

According  to  the  analysis  of  Berzelius,  Iron  Pyrites 
consist  of — 

Sulphur  54.26 

Metallic  Iron  45.74 

Or  of  one  equivalent  of  Iron  to  two  of  Sulphur. 

There  are  many  varieties  of  Pyrites,  some  of  which 
contain  Arsenic,  Cobalt  or  Copper  in  variable  proportions, 
the  sulphurets  of  their  metals  being  capable  of  replacing 
a  portion  of  the  sulphuret  of  Iron. 

Brown  Pyrites  sometimes  contains  minute  particles  of 
metallic  Gold,  or  of  Silver,  intermixed  with  its  substance  or 
included  in  the  fissures  and  striae,  and  the  fine  particles  of 
gold  appear  when  the  crystals  of  pyrites  decompose.  Au- 
riferous pyrites  occur  in  Virginia,  N.  Carolina,  in  Georgia, 
and  also  in  the  Ural  Mountains  of  Siberia.  No  gold  has 
yet  been  found  in  the  Brown  Pyrites  of  New-Hampshire. 

COPPER  PYRITES,  or  the  Sulphuret  of  Copper  and  Iron,  is 
a  valuable  mineral.  It  occurs  in  considerable  abundance 
in  New-Hampshire. 

It  may  be  distinguished  easily  by  the  following  proper- 
ties. It  is  much  softer  than  Iron  Pyrites,  and  is  easily  cut  by 
the  knife,  while  Iron  Pyrites  is  found  to  be  very  hard  and 
brittle. 

Copper  Pyrites,  when  pulverized  and  dissolved  in  nitric 
acid,  may  be  tested  for  copper  by  plunging  a  polish- 
ed piece  of  steel  into  the  acid  solution,  when  metallic 
copper  will  pricipitate  on  the  surface  of  the  steel.  Or  the 
clear  solution  may  be  super  saturated  with  Ammonia, 
when  the  oxide  of  Iron  will  be  thrown  down  as  a  brown 
precipitate,  and  the  super-natant  solution  will  have  a  fine 
azure  blue  color,  since  it  contains  all  the  oxide  of  copper 
in  solution. 

If  Copper  Pyrites  is  roasted  on  charcoal  before  the  blow- 


30  MINERALS. 

pipe,  so  as  to  expel  most  of  the  sulphur,  and  is  then  melt- 
ed with  carbonate  of  soda,  globules  of  metallic  copper 
may  be  separated,  and  will  be  seen  on  the  surface  of  the 
charcoal. 

Pure  copper  pyrites  consists  of — 

Sulphur  35.87 

Metallic  Copper  34.40 

Metallic  Iron  30.47 

or  of  one  equivalent  of  Copper,  one  of  Iron,  and  two 
of  Sulphur. 

The  above  descriptions  may  be  of  service  to  persons  who 
wish  to  investigate  the  nature  of  such  minerals  as  occur 
associated  with  the  primary  rocks. 

There  are  many  others  which  are  occasionally  found  in 
this  class  of  rocks,  but  for  want  of  room  in  this  introduc- 
tion, I  must  refer  the  reader  to  special  works  on  Mineral- 
ogy. 


Gneiss. 

In  the  ascending  order,  we  come  next  to  a  rock  com- 
posed of  the  same  minerals  as  Granite,  but  which  is  more 
or  less  distinctly  stratified  in  its  structure.  It  is  known 
under  the  name  of  Gneiss. 

It  reposes  directly  on  Granite,  and  may  be  considered  as 
a  variety  of  that  rock.  Owing  to  its  stratified  structure, 
Gneiss  splits  parallel  to  the  planes  of  the  mica,  and  large 
slabs  may  be  readily  obtained. 

It  is  extensively  used  for  building  and  for  stone  walls. 
The  more  compact  varieties  are  commonly  sold  under 
the  name  of  Granite. 

Some  Geologists  consider  Gneiss  to  be  a  metamorphic 
rock,  and  as  having  been  originally  formed  by  sedimentary 


GNEISS.  31 

deposit  from  aqueous  suspension.  Others  suppose  that  its 
stratified  structure  is  due  to  crystallization  in  laminae, 
and  that  it  is  merely  the  upper  crust  of  Granite. 

If  Graphite  (or  black  lead)  originated  exclusively  from 
vegetable  matter,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  Gneiss 
once  existed  as  a  sedimentary  deposit  on  which  vegetables 
grew,  for  that  mineral  is  not  unfrequently  found  dissemi- 
nated in  the  rock.  The  enormous  thickness  of  the  strata 
seems  to  be  an  objection  to  the  theory  of  its  metamor- 
phic  origin,  for  how  intensely  heated  must  the  Granitic 
rocks  have  been  when  erupted  to  have  indurated  strata 
several  thousand  feet  in  thickness.  Its  origin  is  therefore 
yet  an  undecided  point  in  Geology,  and  one  which  may 
hereafter  be  settled  by  the  comparison  of  facts  observed  at 
different  places.  New  Hampshire  affords  the  best  opportu- 
nities for  the  solution  of  this  problem,  for  nowhere  in  the 
country  are  there  such  enormous  and  reiterated  strata  of 
this  rock. 

The  minerals  included  in  Gneiss  are  similar  to  those 
found  in  granite.  Veins  and  beds  of  metalliferous  ores  also 
frequently  occur. 

MICA  SLATE  is  composed  of  the  minerals  mica  and 
quartz.  The  mica  is  dispersed  in  regular  layers,  and  is  in- 
terstratified  with  fine  grains  of  quartz. 

It  splits  readily  into  sheets,  the  surfaces  of  which  are 
brilliantly  plated  with  the  crystals  of  mica. 

When  the  laminae  are  uniformly  in  the  same  plane,  the 
rock  splits  into  large  even  tables,  which  are  highly  valued 
for  nagging  stones,  and  they  are  extensively  used  for  ma- 
king side-walks  in  our  large  cities. 

Mica  Slate  is  generally  considered  a  metamorphic  rock, 
formed  by  the  strong  ignition  of  sedimentary  deposits  of 
the  fine  particles  of  granite  from  water.  It  exhibits  a 
gradual  passage  into  Argillaceous  Slate,  which  certainly  is 


32  MICA    SLATE. 

a  rock  of  sedimentary  origin :  hence  we  have  reason  to 
believe  Mica  Slate  was  produced  in  the  same  manner,  it 
having  been  exposed  to  a  more  intense  heat,  so  as  to  form 
a  decidedly  crystalized  aggregate. 

The  strata  are  frequently  contorted  and  doubled  over  by 
the  intrusion  of  Granite  which  has  been  elevated  through 
its  mass. 

In  this  rock  occur  a  great  abundance  of  valuable  and  cu- 
rious minerals.  Beds  of  Limestone,  veins  of  Iron,  Lead, 
Copper,  Tin,  and  Arsenic  ores. 

It  is  a  highly  metalliferous  rock,  and  should  be  examined 
with  great  attention.  I  shall  have  occasion  hereafter  to 
give  a  very  full  and  complete  history  of  the  minerals  which 
occur  in  it  in  New  Hampshire.  A  sufficient  number  of 
examples  will  be  found  in  this  Report  to  prove  it  to  be 
one  of  the  most  interesting  rocks  in  the  State. 

CHLORITE  SLATE  is  of  a  dark  green  color.  It  is  soft,  and  is 
easily  cut  with  the  knife,  and  when  freshly  broken,  may 
be  scratched  by  the  finger-nail.  It  is  not  so  unctuous  as 
Talcose  Slate.  In  the  fire  it  resists  an  ordinary  red  heat, 
but  may  be  melted  at  a  higher  temperature  into  a  black 
slag.  When  compact  and  free  from  quartz,  it  may  be  turn- 
ed in  the  lathe  into  various  useful  articles,  such  as  ink- 
stands, vases,  &c. 

The  compact  or  crystaline  variety  which  occurs  in  veins 
is,  however,  preferable  for  this  purpose.  It  was  from  this 
mineral  that  the  Aboriginal  inhabitants  of  the  Eastern 
States  more  frequently  carved  their  stone  pots  and  calu- 
mets. 

At  present  the  Indians  of  Maine  frequent  the  Chlorite 
veins  of  Cross  Island,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  pipe- 
stone. 

It  serves  most  perfectly  for  the  purposes  above  indicated. 

Associated  with  chlorite  there  frequently  occur  fine  crys- 


MICA    SLATE.  33 

tals  of  Magnetic  Iron  ore,  in  the  form  of  the  regular  Oc- 
tahedron. 

Beds  of  serpentine  and  soapstone  often  occur  beside 
those  of  chlorite,  and  their  frequent  association  seems  to 
indicate  a  similar  origin. 

Hornblende,  Talcose,  and  Chlorite  Slates  often  occur  in 
situations  analogous  to  Mica  Slate,  and  frequently  alternate 
with  the  latter  rock.  These  rocks  are  easily  distinguished 
by  the  presence  of  the  minerals  from  which  they  derive 
their  names  and  characters.  Hornblende  Slate  is  frequently 
charged  with  crystals  of  Garnet  and  a  few  other  acciden- 
tal minerals,  which  will  be  noticed  hereafter.  Talcose 
Slate  is  distinguished  by  its  color,  softness,  and  unctuous 
feel  when  it  is  rubbed  by  the  fingers.  It  is  a  valuable 
rock,  since  it  furnishes  an  infusible  material  for  the  con- 
struction of  furnaces  and  lime-kilns,  and  when  compact 
and  soft,  it  is  largely  employed  in  the  arts  under  the  name 
of  Soapstone  (sometimes  called  in  New  Hampshire,  Free- 
stone. )  This  rock  exists  abundantly  in  the  State,  and  is 
wrought  to  some  extent. 

Included  in  Talcose  Slate  occur  several  valuable  ores, 
such  as  Iron,  Copper,  Gold  and  Silver.  The  latter  metals 
have  not  yet  been  found  in  New  Hampshire,  but  at  Clare- 
mont  a  variety  of  Pyrites  is  found  disseminated  in  it  which 
exactly  resembles  the  Auriferous  Pyrites  of  Siberia  and  of 
the  Southern  States.  Although  I  do  not  consider  the  pre- 
cious metals  so  worthy  of  attention  as  those  which  are 
more  commonly  serviceable,  yet  I  would  direct  the  atten- 
tion of  those  who  are  desirous  of  discovering  these  metals 
in  the  State  to  an  attentive  examination  of  this  rock.  It 
must,  however,  be  remembered,  that  gold  is  rarely  found 
in  particles  visible  to  the  naked  eye,  excepting  in  the  de- 
composed and  washed  ore. 


34  ARGILLACEOUS    SLATE. 

Argillaceous  Slate. 

This  rock  is  composed  of  the  finest  particles  of  antece- 
dent rocks  which  were  deposited  slowly  by  tranquil  water. 
The  influence  of  pressure  and  heat  appears  to  have  con- 
solidated the  clay  thus  formed  into  a  solid  rock,  which  has 
a  stratified  structure,  owing  to  the  manner  of  its  deposi- 
tion. 

By  subterranean  power  the  slates  have  been  elevated,  so 
that  their  strata  now  form  a  bold  angle  with  the  horizon. 
The  upheaving  rock  in  New  Hampshire  was  evidently  the 
granite,  which  not  only  uplifted  the  strata,  but  also  broke 
through  it,  and  spread  upon  its  surface.  On  Piquacket 
Mountain,  in  Bartlett,  the  traveller  may  observe  a  striking 
instance  of  such  a  disruption ;  for  there  the  broken  slate 
forms  a  confused  mixture  with  the  granite  that  burst 
through  its  strata. 

Argillaceous  Slates  are  of  different  ages,  and  were  formed 
under  different  circumstances.  Those  to  which  I  now  re- 
fer are  deposited  immediately  upon  the  primary  rocks,  and 
belong  to  the  oldest  transition  class.  Their  lower  strata 
do  not  contain  any  organic  relics,  but  higher  up  we  find  a 
few  remains  of  marine  animals,  and  plants  of  the  simplest 
structure. 

Slate  rocks  are  valuable  for  use  in  the  arts  when  they 
have  a  uniform  cleavage,  and  are  even  and  sound.  The 
more  compact  varieties  are  used  for  grave-stones,  while 
those  which  are  fissile  are  valuable  for  covering  the  roofs 
of  houses. 

REPORTS  ON  THE  SECTIONAL  PROFILES  OF  THE  ROCKS. 

In  order  to  ascertain  the  extent  and  limits  of  the  prin- 
cipal rocks,  beds,  and  veins,  and  their  relative  situation,  as 
also  the  elevations  and  depressions  of  the  surface  of  the 


SECTIONAL  PROFILES  OF  ROCKS.  35 

country,  a  series  of  sectional  lines  were  measured  and  ex- 
plored in  directions  alternately  transverse  and  parallel  to 
the  general  direction  of  the  strata. 

The  first  of  these  great  sections  extends  from  the  south- 
eastern extremity  of  the  State  at  Portsmouth,  to  Clare- 
mont  on  the  Connecticut  River,  passing  through  the  State 
in  a.  north-westerly  direction,  and  crossing  all  the  N.  E. 
and  S.  W.  strata,  nearly  at  right  angles. 

The  second  great  section  was  laid  out  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  Connecticut  River,  and  runs  parallel  with  the 
general  course  of  that  river,  extending  from  Northfield  in 
Massachusetts,  to  Haverhill  in  New-Hampshire,  and  pur- 
sues a  direction  a  few  degrees  eastward  of  a  meridional 
line. 

A  third  section  extends  from  Concord  to  Wakefield,  and 
the  fourth  from  Wakefield  to  Haverhill. 

By  inspecting  the  State  map,  it  will  be  seen  that  these 
lines  form  a  series  of  zig-zags  on  a  large  scale,  and  the  pro- 
file of  their  Geological  features  represents  the  actual  struc- 
ture of  the  rocks  and  mountains,  the  inclination  of  the 
strata,  centres  of  elevation,  and  the  nature  of  the  intrud- 
ed rocks  which  effected  the  upheaving  of  the  stratified 
rocks  which  repose  upon  them. 

Those  who  have  not  attended  to  the  subject,  may  not 
fully  understand  the  nature  of  these  sections,  and  I  would 
therefore  observe,  that  they  represent  the  structure  of  the 
country  as  it  would  appear  if  a  straight  line  was  drawn 
from  one  of  the  points  mentioned  to  the  other,  and  then  a 
perpendicular  cut  was  made  through  the  rocks,  along  the 
whole  length  of  the  line,  quite  down  to  the  level  of  the 
sea.  It  is  customary,  in  order  to  avoid  a  very  long  profile, 
to  draw  plans  in  such  a  manner  that  the  scale  of  the  length 
is  considerably  less  than  that  of  the  height,  but  we  have 
endeavored  to  keep  the  proportions  within  proper  limits,  so 
that  the  sectional  profiles  have  a  more  natural  appearance 


36  SECTIONAL  PROFILES  OF  ROCKS. 

than  those  which  are  commonly  drawn  for  such  purposes. 
In  limited  districts,  it  is  easy  to  draw  plans  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  the  scale  of  length  and  of  height  are  the  same, 
but  one  running  across  a  great  State  cannot  be  represented 
in  that  manner  without  elongating  the  profile  so  as  to  ren- 
der it  cumbersome  and  unmanageable. 

I  have  seen  some  beautiful  models  of  the  structure  of 
mountainous  regions  in  Switzerland  and  in  Pennsylvania, 
which  were  constructed  of  plaster,  stucco,  or  paper  mash 
mixed  with  gypsum.  Such  models  may  be  made  to  rep- 
resent the  Geological  and  topographical  structure  of  New- 
Hampshire,  when  we  have  measured  the  elevations  of  all 
the  mountains  and  the  depth  of  the  valleys,  but  the  work 
would  prove  very  expensive,  and  would  require  more  time 
than  is  allowed  for  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  State.  I 
hope,  however,  that  some  artist  will  hereafter  construct 
such  models  of  the  White  Mountain  ranges,  and  there  is 
but  little  doubt  that  travellers  would  most  gladly  purchase 
copies  of  them  as  Souvenirs  of  that  picturesque  region. 

Section  First,  from  Portsmouth  through  Concord  to 
Claremont. 

Having  examined  the  extremities  and  some  few  points 
on  this  line,  the  survey  of  a  sectional  Geological  profile 
was  confided  to  my  assistants,  who  performed  the  work  in 
a  satisfactory  manner,  and  their  Report  is1  herewith  pre- 
sented in  connection  with  the  remarks  which  I  have  to 
offer  on  the  outlines  of  the  Geology  of  Portsmouth  and 
its  vicinity. 

We  shall  first  present  a  few  remarks  on  the  Geology  of 
the  Isles  of  Shoals,  which  are  situated  near  the  south- 
eastern extremity  of  our  first  section. 


ISLES    OF    SHOALS.  37 

Isles  of  Shoals. 

Through  the  politeness  of  Captain  Currier  of  Portsmouth, 
we  were  enabled  to  visit  the  Isles  of  Shoals,  in  the  U.  S. 
Revenue  Cutter.  These  Islands  form  the  extreme  outposts 
of  the  State,  and  are  situated  about  10  miles  S.  S.  E.  from 
Portsmouth  harbor,  in  the  open  Sea.  Having  frequently 
seen  these  Islands  at  a  distance  on  former  occasions,  I  did 
not  expect  to  find  much  that  would  be  interesting  in  their 
Geology,  but  since  they  form  the  extreme  point  of  our 
first  section,  it  became  necessary  to  examine  them.  There 
are  seven  Islands  and  a  few  rocks,  which  have  received 
the  name  of  the  Isles  of  Shoals.  They  are  all  composed 
of  ledges  of  rock,  and  but  few  of  them  possess  any  soil 
suitable  for  agriculture. 

The  inhabitants  rely  mostly  on  the  treasures  of  the 
deep  for  sustenance,  are  expert  fishermen  and  excellent 
mariners.  Singular  as  it  may  appear,  it  is  stated  that  on 
these  remote  and  lonely  Islands,  the  first  settlers  of  New- 
Hampshire  fixed  their  abode,  and  dwelt  there  many  years 
before  settlements  were  effected  on  the  main  land.  It  is 
supposed  that  an  isolated  situation  was  chosen  in  order  to 
avoid  the  hostile  incursions  of  the  Savages. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the   Islands  : 

1st.  Star  Island,  on  which  is  situated  the  Tillage  of 
Gosport. 

2d.  White  Island,  on  which  there  is  a  light  house. 

3d.  Hog  Island,  which  belongs  to  the  State  of  Maine, 
has  two  or  three  dwelling  houses  upon  it. 

4th.  The  Londoner  is  a  small  rocky  Island  having  a 
light  house  upon  it. 

5th.  Cedar  Island. 

6th.  Smutty  Nose. 

7th.  Duck  Island. 


38 


ISLES    OF    SHOALS. 


View  of  Gosport  on  Star  Island  off  Portsmouth  Harbor. 

Gosport  is  a  small  village,  inhabited  chiefly  by  fisher- 
men, whose  numerous  boats  moored  near  the  town,  pre- 
sented the  appearance  of  a  grove  of  slender  masts.  The 
town  has  one  small  meeting  house. 

The  Island  is  composed  of  a  coarse  variety  of  granite, 
having  large  crystals  of  white  felspar,  grey  quartz,  and 
but  little  mica.  Intercalated  beds  of  mica  slate,  also  oc- 
cur in  the  granite.  Through  the  middle  of  the  Island 
runs  a  large  dyke  of  greenstone  trap  rock,  in  a  N.  50°  E., 
S.  50°  W.  direction.  There  is  but  little  soil  on  the  sur- 
face of  the  rocks,  serving  in  a  few  places  for  kitchen  gar- 
dens for  the  cultivation  of  potatoes,  and  a  few  ordinary  veg- 
etables. The  inhabitants  depend  on  the  agricultural  pro- 
duce of  the  main  land,  and  exchange  for  them  the  products 
of  the  sea.  Hog  Island  is  composed  mostly  of  mica  slate 
rocks,  and  has  a  thin  covering  of  soil,  but  is  not  cultivat- 
ed to  any  extent. 

Duck  Island  is  composed  of  Granite  and  Gneiss  rocks. 
The  only  soil  existant  on  its  surface  fills  the  irregular  de- 
pressions of  the  rocks,  and  supports  a  few  of  the  hardy 


ISLES    OF    SHOALS. 


39 


wild  grasses,  bushes,  and  a  few  maritime  flowering  plants 
which  are  common  on  our  Eastern  coast.  The  Island 
probably  takes  its  name  from  the  abundance  of  sea  fowl 
which  frequent  its  shores,  and  deposit  their  eggs  on  the 
rocks  or  among  the  grass. 

Owing  to  the  heavy  surf  which  dashed  upon  the  shores 
of  the  Islands,  we  were  only  able  to  effect  landings  in  a 
few  places ;  the  others,  being  seen  from  the  deck  of  the 
cutter  as  we  ran  close  by  them,  appeared  to  consist  exclu- 
sively of  coarse  granite,  broken  occasionally  into  huge  cu- 
boidal  blocks,  and  possessing  but  little  Geological  interest. 


White  Island,  seen  from  Gosport  to  the  S.  W.7  off  Portsmouth. 

Near  the  light-house  at  Fort  Constitution,  on  Reases 
Island,  several  large  and  well  characterized  dykes  of  Green- 
stone Trap  are  seen  cutting  through  the  slate  rocks,  and 
they  occur  at  numerous  other  places  near  the  mouth  of  the 
River. 

Having  seen  all  that  was  deemed  essential  to  our  pur- 
pose, we  returned  to  Portsmouth,  and  continued  our  re- 
searches in  the  vicinity  of  the  town. 


40  PORTSMOUTH    AND    VICINITY. 

Geology  of  Portsmouth  and  its  vicinity. 

The  Geology  of  Portsmouth  is  somewhat  complicated 
and  difficult,  but  possesses  a  high  scientific  interest. 

The  principal  rocks  are  of  a  metamorphic  character,  or 
sach  as  have  undergone  marked  changes  in  structure  or 
composition,  by  the  agency  of  heat.  They  are  continua- 
tions of  similar  strata  which  occur  at  York,  in  the  State 
of  Maine,  and  exhibit  like  phenomena. 

The  rocks  to  which  I  refer  are  the  dark  blue  flinty  slates, 
possessing  an  imperfectly  stratified  structure — a  very  com- 
pact texture — sonorous  when  struck  by  the  hammer,  and 
often  breaking  with  a  more  or  less  distinctly  conchoidal 
fracture.  Occasionally  they  evince  a  passage  into  an  im- 
perfect micaceous  slate,  especially  where  they  border  on 
granite  rocks. 

The  strata  were  doubtless  originally  deposited  in  a  hor- 
izontal position,  and  were  formed  by  the  deposition  of 
clayey  particles  from  water.  In  its  first  stage,  the  matter 
was  probably  in  the  state  of  fine  blue  clay,  but  when  the 
eruption  of  the  granite  and  trap  rocks  took  place,  the  clay 
became  indurated,  and  was  converted  into  solid  rock,  while 
the  strata  at  that  epoch  were  tilted  up  and  set  on  their  ed- 
ges, or  were  elevated  from  their  horizontal  position.  The 
same  igneous  influence  which  hardened  the  clay  into  flinty 
slate,  appears  also  to  have  produced  a  sublimation  of  Iron 
Pyrites,  or  of  Sulphur,  which,  combining  with  the  iron  in 
the  clay,  formed  Bi-sulphuret  of  Iron,  a  mineral  abound- 
ing in  the  flinty  slate.  Another  change  is  also  observed 
in  the  flinty  slate  rocks  near  the  rail-road  cutting  in  the 
vicinity  of  Portsmouth.  The  rock  is  there  filled  with  an 
infinity  of  reticulated  veins  of  carbonate  of  lime.  This 
crystaline  carbonate  of  lime  may  have  been  produced  by 
the  fusion  of  calcareous  matter  contained  in  the  clay  by 
the  action  of  heat,  given  out  during  the  eruption  of  mol- 


PORTSMOUTH    AND    VICINITY.  41 

ten  rocks  protruded  from  below ;  such  a  theory  of  its  for- 
mation being  supported  by  the  results  of  artificial  experi- 
ments, and  by  observations  made  at  many  other  places, 
where  such  an  influence  is  known  to  have  been  exerted. 

Iron  Pyrites  abounds  at  the  localities  above  described, 
and  the  facts  observed  appear  to  give  support  to  the  views 
which  we  entertain  as  to  the  igneous  alteration  of  the  rock. 

Subsequent  to  the  elevation  of  the  strata  of  flinty  slate, 
numerous  eruptions  of  greenstone  trap  rock  took  place. 
Extensive  fissures  having  been  formed  in  the  rock,  the 
melted  trap  rose  into,  and  filled  them  entirely.  From 
such  causes  resulted  the  large  veins  or  dykes.  By  ob- 
servations made  on  the  intersections  of  these  dykes,  we 
are  enabled  to  prove  that  three  or  more  distinct  erup- 
tions of  this  intruded  rock  took  place.  Sometimes  the 
older  dykes  are  cut  off,  but  more  frequently  they  were  rup- 
tured in  their  midst,  and  a  newer  dyke  runs  either  through 
the  middle  of  the  older  dyke,  or  between  it  and  the  slate 
rocks  which  form  its  borders. 

Some  fine  illustrations  of  the  foregoing  remarks  may  be 
seen  on  the  sea-coast  North  of  the  Little  Boar's  Head. 
The  dykes  at  that  place  vary  in  width  from  a  few  inches 
to  ten  feet.  They  generally  run  in  a  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  di- 
rection, with  some  irregularities  and  zigzags.  These  erup- 
tions have  evidently  taken  place  there,  nearly  in  the  same 
line  of  direction.  The  more  recent  dykes,  included  in,  or 
collateral  with,  the  older  ones,  are  of  a  much  darker  hue, 
and  more  compact  in  texture.  The  smaller  dykes  are  im- 
perfectly columnar  in  a  direction  at  right  angles  with  the 
rock  in  which  they  are  included,  this  structure  depending 
on  the  surfaces  where  the  cooling  commenced.  Huge 
masses  of  trap  rock,  which  cooled  from  the  upper  surface, 
are  generally  columnar  in  a  vertical  direction,  as  may  be 
observed  in  Nova  Scotia,  on  the  Eastern  coast  of  Maine, 

6 


42  PORTSMOUTH    AND    VICINITY. 

at  Mount  Holyoke  in  Massachusetts,  and  the  Palisadoes  on 
the  Hudson  River,  in  New  York. 

The  observer  will  also  remark  at  the  locality  near  Ports- 
mouth, that  the  strata  of  flinty  slate  are  much  contorted, 
and  that  this  contortion  took  place  evidently  anterior  to 
the  eruption  of  the  trap  dykes.  He  will  also  notice  nu- 
merous veins  of  compact  felspar  in  the  flinty  slate,  which 
probably  were  formed  at  the  epoch  of  the  elevation  of  the 
granite  rocks. 

The  flinty  slate  occurs  also  in  the  town  of  Portsmouth, 
and  along  the  banks  of  the  Piscataqua  River,  where  the 
strata  are  much  broken,  the  joints  being  generally  in  di- 
rections parallel  to  those  of  a  rhombic  prism.  On  the  mar- 
gin of  the  river,  near  the  estate  of  Col.  Ichabod  Bartlett, 
the  slate  is  divided  into  such  rhomboidal  masses,  and  is 
torn  asunder  during  winter  by  the  action  of  freezing  wa- 
ter, and  produces  loose  shingle  of  slate,  which  pave  the 
shores  of  the  stream. 

The  flinty  slate  region  of  Portsmouth  is  surrounded  by 
granite  rocks,  which,  in  numerous  places,  have  been  erup- 
ted so  as  to  isolate  portions  of  the  slate,  by  intrusion  be- 
tween their  masses.  Such  phenomena  would  give  to  a 
casual  observer  the  idea  that  the  slates  and  granite  alternate 
with  each  other. 

It  will  be  found,  on  further  observation,  that  such  is  not 
the  case,  for  the  primary  rocks  have  merely  been  forced  in 
between  portions  of  the  slate.  On  our  way  from  Ports- 
mouth to  the  Boar's  Head  and  Hampton  Beach,  we  had 
occasion  to  observe  phenomena  of  the  kind  above  referred 
to,  in  the  town  of  Rye.  The  locality  is  at  the  corner  of 
the  old  road  to  Portsmouth  and  the  La  Fayette  road,  near 
the  house  of  Mr.  Samuel  Langdon,  1  1-2  miles  from  Ports- 
mouth. A  mass  of  granite  has  there- been  intruded  through 
the  slate,  and  occupies  a  considerable  area,  beyond  which 
the  flinty  slate  again  appears,  and  then  gives  way  to  a  reg- 


GRANITE    QUARRY    IN    RYE.  43 

ular  granite  and  gneiss  formation,  which  extends  through 
a  large  portion  of  the  town  of  Rye. 

In  Portsmouth  the  intrusion  of  granite  veins  and  trap 
dykes  into  the  flinty  slate,  may  be  seen  in  Shear's  Woods. 
The  trap  dykes  pursue  a  north-east  and  south-west  direc- 
tion, and  are  irregularly  columnar  in  a  vertical  direction. 

Breakfast  Hill  is  composed  of  granite  and  gneiss  rocks, 
and  will  furnish  an  abundance  of  building  stone.  The 
strata  of  gneiss  run  N.  16°  E.,  S.  16°  W.,  and  dip  N.  74° 
W.,  at  an  angle  of  70°  from  the  horizon. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  flinty  slate  region  in  Maine  and 
around  Portsmouth  is  bordered  by  primary  rocks,  and  to 
their  influence  we  have,  as  before  stated,  ascribed  the  met- 
amorphoses which  the  slate  has  undergone.  The  clay 
forming  the  basis  of  the  slate  may  have  been  produced  by 
alluvial  deposits  of  the  fine  particles  of  older  granite  rocks, 
and  the  fineness  of  the  particles  shew  that  it  was  depos- 
ited by  tranquil  waters  in  a  very  gradual  manner. 


Granite  Quarry  in  Rye. 

In  the  town  of  Rye,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  S.  W. 
from  the  meeting-house,  in  the  midst  of  a  white-pine 
grove,  a  quarry  has  been  opened  for  obtaining  granite, 
which  is  a  light  colored  variety,  of  good  texture,  and  splits 
tolerably  into  the  forms  desired  for  building  stones. 

An  abundant  supply  may  be  obtained,  and  the  locality 
will  prove  valuable,  it  being  in  the  vicinity  of  Portsmouth. 


MESSRS.    WHITNEY    AND    WILLIAMS'  REPORT  ON    THE    SECTION 

FROM  PORTSMOUTH    TO    CLAREMONT,  THROUGH 

CONCORD. 


The  Geological  character  of  Portsmouth  having  been 
before  described,  Newington  is  the  first  town  on  this  sec- 
tion, proceeding  westward.  It  is  undoubtedly  underlaid 
with  clay-slate,  similar  to  that  which  occurs  at  Ports- 
mouth, which  appears,  in  situ,  at  Piscataqua  Bridge,  where 
it  runs  N.  80°  W.,  and  dips  to  the  North  82°.  The  sur- 
face of  this  town  is  covered  with  diluvial  detritus,  princi- 
pally of  sienitic  granite.  Large  blocks  of  this  rock  occur, 
and  it  being  a  handsome  building  material,  it  is  quarried 
for  underpinning  and  other  purposes. 

The  centre  of  the  town  is  about  150  feet  above  the  sea. 

The  clay-slate  occurs  on  both  sides  of  the  Bay  at  the 
bridge,  but  proceeding  westward  it  is  soon  replaced  by  the 
sienitic  granite,  which  underlies  the  town  of  Durham. 
This  rock,  which  is  of  a  dark  color,  and  a  beautiful  build- 
ing stone,  has  been  quarried  to  some  extent  at  Durham 
Point,  about  three  miles  from  the  centre  of  the  town.  It 
there  occurs  in  large  tabular  sheets,  or  platforms,  from  one 
inch  to  a  foot  in  thickness.  This  facility  of  cleavage  ren- 
ders it  a  valuable  material  for  almost  all  building  purposes, 
but  it  cannot  be  obtained  in  blocks  sufficiently  thick  for 


46  SECTION    FROM    PORTSMOUTH    TO    CLAREMONT. 

columns.  The  Newmarket  Mills  are  built  of  the  stone 
from  this  quarry,  and  it  is  a  valuable  addition  to  the  re- 
sources of  the  neighboring  country ;  but,  owing  to  the 
transhipment  required  by  the  situation  of  the  quarry,  it  is 
doubtful  whether  it  can  compete,  in  a  foreign  market,  with 
others  on  the  coast  of  Maine,  more  favorably  situated  for 
close  access  of  vessels  of  any  draught  of  water. 

Good  specimens  of  garnets,  black  tourmalines,  and  other 
minerals  common  in  the  primitive  rocks,  are  said  to  have 
been  found  in  this  vicinity. 

From  Durham  to  Lee,  the  surface  of  the  country  pre- 
sents evident  marks  of  powerful  diluvial  action.  The 
granitic  sand  is  heaped  up  in  hills,  some  of  which  are  of 
tolerably  regular  conical  shape,  and  are  elevated  from  two 
to  three  hundred  feet  above  the  general  level  of  the  sur- 
face. On  the  summit  of  one  of  these  elevations,  about 
one  and  a  half  miles  from  Packer's  Falls,  occurs  a  numer- 
ous group  of  erratic  boulders  of  sienitic  granite,  somewhat 
remarkable  for  their  isolated  situation  and  great  size.  One 
of  them,  which  has  evidently  been  split  in  two  by  the  ac- 
tion of  the  weather,  since  its  deposition  on  its  present 
resting  place,  measures  sixteen  feet  in  height. 

Mica  slate  first  occurs,  in  place,  about  one  half  mile  E. 
of  Lee  church ;  its  direction  is  N.  60°  E.,  and  dip  nearly 
vertical.  It  is  charged  with  Iron  Pyrites,  and  is  on  this 
account  fast  decomposing,  giving  rise  to  a  soil  which  is 
not  very  valuable  without  suitable  amendments. 

Three  miles  from  Lee,  a  white  and  beautiful  granite 
shows  itself  in  place,  extending  for  1  1-2  miles  west. 
This  alternates  with  irregular  beds  of  mica  slate,  whose 
general  direction  is  N.  60°  E.,  and  dip  from  40°  to  55°  to 
the  south,  though  in  one  case  a  limited  bed,  filled  with 
quartz  veins,  and  evidently  disturbed  in  position,  dips  to 
the  north. 

Boulders  of  sienite  granite,  and  masses  of  diluvial  sand 


SECTION    FROM    PORTSMOUTH     TO    CLAREMONT.  47 

conceal  in  a  great  measure,  the  under-lying  rocks  between 
Durham  and  Nottingham. 

The  centre  of  the  town  of  Nottingham,  or  the  "Square," 
is  pleasantly  situated  on  a  hill,  about  450  feet  above  the 
sea  level.  The  northern  and  north-western  part  of  the 
town  is  quite  rocky,  but  in  general,  the  soil  is  well  fitted 
for  pasturage,  and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  Near  the 
centre  of  the  town,  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Cilley,  occurs  a 
large  ledge  of  white  granular  quartz,  which  would  aiford 
an  inexhaustable  supply  of  this  valuable  material  for  va- 
rious purposes  of  the  arts.  Grey  granular  quartz  rock,  or 
"  firestone"  as  it  is  commonly  called,  found  in  the  S.  E. 
part  of  the  town,  has  been  mistaken  for  limestone,  of  which 
rock  no  traces  have  been  yet  discovered  in  this  vicinity. 
The  unequal  decomposition  of  nodules  of  quartz  in  a  dark 
colored  granite,  in  form  nearly  resembling  foot-marks,  has 
given  rise  to  some  amusing  speculations,  on  the  part  of 
the  neighboring  inhabitants. 

The  Patuccoway  mountains  lying  on  the  line  between 
Nottingham  and  Deerfield,  consist  of  three  distinct  eleva- 
tions, rising  somewhat  abruptly  from  near  Round  Pond, 
known  as  the  Upper,  Middle  and  Lower  Mountains.  They 
are  based  on  mica  slate,  which  is  fast  decomposing  into 
soil,  from  the  action  of  the  iron  pyrites  which  it  contains, 
and  they  consist  principally  of  sienite  granite,  on  which 
are  piled  fragments  of  the  same  rock  and  mica  slate,  in  the 
utmost  confusion.  Near  the  summit  of  the  Lower  moun- 
tain the  sienite  assumes  the  form  of  huge  scales,  from  12 
to  18  inches  in  thickness. 

On  the  Lower  mountain  there  occurs  a  dyke  of  green- 
stone trap  which  crosses  its  summit,  and  divide  it  in- 
to two  nearly  equal  parts.  This  dyke  is  singularly 
columnar,  and  on  the  face  of  a  bare  ledge,  inclined  about 
45°,  it  assumes  the  form  of  steps  fifteen  to  sixteen  in  num- 
ber, each  about  nine  inches  in  height;  they  are  known  to  the 


48  SECTION    FROM    PORTSMOUTH    TO    CLAREMONT. 

inhabitants  as  the  "  Stairs."  It  varies  from  six  to  twelve 
inches  in  width,  and  was  traced  for  a  quarter  of  a  mile, 
till  concealed  by  the  soil.  Like  most  of  these  narrow 
dykes,  the  columns  were  from  side  to  side,  of  the  wall- 
rock,  very  evidently  a  crystalline  structure,  induced  by 
cooling  from  the  sides  rather  than  from  the  surface. 

The  height  of  each  of  these  mountains  above  the  sea 
level,  is  as  follows  : 

Lower  Mt.  780  feet. 

Upper  Mt.  892  feet. 

Middle  Mt.  827  feet. 

A  ledge  of  coarse  grained  and  well  marked  graphic  gran- 
ite occurs  near  the  centre  of  the  town  of  Nottingham,  from 
under  which  a  small  quantity  of  decomposed  talcose  rock 
has  been  obtained.  This  deposit  is  apparently  not  of  suf- 
ficient extent  to  be  of  any  practical  value. 

It  is  said  that  a  bed  of  bog-iron  ore  occurs  about  three 
miles  north-west  of  the  centre  of  the  town,  which  was 
worked  to  some  extent  during  the  revolutionary  war,  but 
the  iron  not  being  of  good  quality,  or  the  supply  failing, 
it  was  abandoned.  Being  disappointed  in  our  guide,  we 
were  unable  to  explore  it  at  this  time. 

Saddleback  Mt.  which  crosses  this  sectional  line,  lying 
in  the  towns  of  Deerfield  and  Nottingham,  is  elevated 
about  1032  feet  above  the  sea  level.  It  consists  of  mica 
slate,  the  strata  of  which  run  nearly  E.  and  W.,  and  dip 
to  the  north  40°. 

This  rock  contains  garnets  of  fine  clove-brown  color, 
but  of  small  size  ;  also,  well  crystallized  black  tourmaline. 

In  some  cases,  the  tourmaline  in  boulders  occurring  on 
the  side  of  the  Mt.,  forms  a  well  marked  schorlaceous  gran- 
ite. A  single  well  crystallized  ruby,  of  fine  color,  but  of 
small  size,  was  found  at  this  place.  More  careful  exam- 
ination will  perhaps  furnish  interesting  specimens  for  the 
Mineralogist. 


SECTION    FROM     PORTSMOUTH    TO    CLAREMONT.  49 

Proceeding  from  this  mountain  westward,  the  rocks  are 
mainly  coarse  grained  felsparthic  granite,  alternating  with 
mica  slate,  which  dips  nearly  vertically,  and  is  stratifi- 
ed in  a  direction  nearly  N.  and  S. 

The  McKoy  Mts.  based  on  mica  slate,  are  from  four 
to  five  hundred  feet  in  height,  wooded  and  pastured  to 
their  summits. 

Soon  after  leaving  Epsom,  the  diluvial  granitic  sand, 
which  fills  the  valley  of  the  Merrimack,  varying  in  depth 
from  ten  to  one  hundred  feet,  effectually  conceals  all  the 
rocks  in  place  from  sight.  This,  throughout  its  whole 
extent,  is  covered  with  low  pine  trees,  with  a  weak  un- 
der growth. 

At  the  Free  Bridge  at  Concord,  the  diluvial  sand  is  ele- 
vated about  70  feet  above  the  river  alluvion,  which  is  there 
quite  narrow.  The  descent  from  the  plain  above,  is  by 
means  of  a  natural  defile,  of  suitable  width  for  a  road, 
evidently  worn  out  by  the  action  of  water.  It  would  seem 
that  this  might  have  been  one  of  the  channels  through 
which  the  extended  plain  above  was  drained,  after  the  de- 
position of  this  immense  pile  of  diluvium.  Similar  defiles 
occur  of  great  interest  on  the  sandy  plains  on  Westfield 
River,  Massachusetts. 

Concord  is  built  upon  the  sandy  diluvium  of  the  Merri- 
mack, through  which  a  fine  grained  white  granite  occa- 
sionally shows  itself,  forming  low  ridges  of  hills.  In  the 
West  Parish,  an  extensive  quarry  has  been  for  some  time 
worked.  Large  quantities  of  stone  have  been  furnished 
for  the  use  of  the  vicinity,  and  for  the  Boston  market.  Of 
this  the  State  House  is  built,  and  it  is  the  best  specimen 
of  the  rock  which  could  be  shown. 

The  diluvial  sand  extends  as  far  as  Warner,  with  a  gen- 
tle rise  as  we  proceed  westward.  Beds  of  mica  slate  ap- 
pear above  its  surface.  They  are  often  highly  pyritifer- 
ous,  and  by  their  decomposition,  are  adding  constantly  to 


50  SECTION  FROM  PORTSMOUTH  TO  CLAREMONT. 

the  mass  of  sand  in  the  valley.  They  ran  N.  45°  W.  and 
dip  to  the  north  from  50°  to  65°. 

Large  boulders  of  porphyritic  granite  are  very  numer- 
ous over  the  surface,  from  the  West  Parish  of  Concord,  to 
the  centre  of  Warner,  .where  we  find  the  rock  itself  in 
place.  It  is  a  peculiar  rock,  having  large  crystals  of  fels- 
par uniformly  distributed  through  its  mass  ;  they  are  often 
glassy,  so  as  to  furnish  beautiful  and  striking  specimens. 
This  bed  of  granite  extends  across  the  State  in  a  general 
N.  E.  and  S.  W.  direction ;  it  is  from  8  to  10  miles  in 
width,  though  often  interrupted  with  veins  of  granite  of 
various  texture,  often  very  coarse  grained,  and  containing 
occasional  beds  of  mica  slate.  Boulders  of  this  rock,  which 
are  easily  recognized  from  their  peculiar  porphyritic  struc- 
ture, are  exceedingly  numerous  to  the  south,  but  we  have 
never  found  them  beyond  the  northern  limit  of  the  rock 
in  place.  The  fragments,  which  at  first  are  of  great  size 
and  little  worn  by  action  of  the  weather,  gradually  dimin- 
ishing in  size,  have  been  transported  at  least  10  miles  to 
the  south  of  their  native  bed.  This  rock  continues  on 
this  sectional  line,  about  three  miles  west  of  Newbury, 
where  it  is  replaced  by  mica  slate,  which  continues  to  Clare- 
mont.  It  is  generally  very  much  contorted  and  filled  with 
quartz  veins.  At  the  Sugar  River  Falls,  the  strata  dip  a 
little  to  the  E.  of  S.,  and  run  N.  and  S.  In  this  rock  crys- 
tals of  pyrites  1-2  inch  square  abound. 

Green  Mt.  in  Claremont,  is  based  on  mica  slate  ;  it  con- 
sists of  quartz  rock,  which  has  the  appearance  of  regular 
stratification,  but  in  reality  it  is  a  crystalline  structure, 
which  divides  the  rock  into  huge  rhombohedral  frag- 
ments. 

On  the  side  of  this  mountain  in  mica  slate,  occur  large 
crystals  of  Staurotide  of  considerable  beauty.  The  mi- 
caceous slate  on  Twistback  Mt.,  is  interstratified  with 
small  beds  of  impure  blue  limestone. 


SECTION  FROM  PORTSMOUTH  TO  CLAREMONT.  51 

Near  the  centre  of  the  town  an  excavation  has  been 
made,  with  the  expectation  of  finding  iron.  The  ore  is 
oxide  of  manganese,  with  apocrenate  of  iron  and  mangan- 
ese, and  is  contained  in  mica  slate. 

Sunapee  Lake,  which  is  about  twelve  miles  in  length, 
is  so  near  the  summit  level,  that  a  slight  excavation  would 
turn  its  waters  either  into  the  Connecticut,  or  the  Merri- 
mack.  It  is  elevated  about  1080  feet  above  the  sea  level, 
and  the  descent  of  its  outlet,  Sugar  River,  to  the  Connect- 
icut is  very  rapid. 

The  sections  drawn  by  the  aid  of  the  Barometer,  which 
these  outlines  of  their  Geology  are  designed  to  illustrate, 
are  already  drawn,  and  will  be  published  with  the  other 
sections  and  illustrations  in  the  final  or  General  Report. 


LONGITUDINAL   SECTION   PARALLEL  TO    THE    GENERAL  COUBSK 
OF    THE     CONNECTICUT    RIVER. 


While  my  Assistants  were  engaged  in  reconnoitering  a 
series  of  sections  which  cross  the  State  in  oblique  direc- 
tions, alternately  transverse  and  parallel  to  the  general  di- 
rection of  the  older  strata,  I  explored  the  first  great  longi- 
tudinal, and  a  series  of  transverse  sectional  lines.  The 
first  longitudinal  section  runs  in  a  North  and  South  direc- 
tion, parallel  to  the  general  course  of  the  Connecticut 
River,  extending  from  Northfield  in  Massachusetts,  to  Ha- 
verhill  in  New-Hampshire,  and  passes  over  the  principal 
rock  formations  of  the  Western  portion  of  the  State.  The 
profile  of  this  section  represents  the  elevations  and  depres- 
sions of  the  country,  and  the  manner  in  which  the  rocks 
are  disposed.  It  presents  at  one  view  the  relative  extent, 
direction,  dip,  and  axes  of  elevation  of  the  strata,  with 
their  principal  included  beds  and  veins.  It  is  of  an  inter- 
esting character,  both  in  a  scientific  and  practical  point  of 
view,  since  it  exhibits  the  junctions  of  the  argillaceous 
slates  and  limestones  with  the  older  primary  rocks,  and  the 
changes  which  have  been  effected  in  the  former  by  the  in- 
fluence of  the  latter.  Beginning  at  the  Southern  extrem- 
ity of  this  sectional  line.  I  shall  describe  the  outlines  of 
the  Geological  structure  of  the  country  which  it  intersects. 


54   SECTION  PARALLEL  .TO  THE  CONNECTICUT  RIVER. 

Ill  the  town  of  Northfield,  near  the  south-western  cor- 
ner of  the  State  of  New-Hampshire,  the  red  conglome- 
rates and  sandstones  of  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut 
River  are  seen  reposing  upon  the  argillaceous  slate  rocks 
of  New-Hampshire ;  but  the  sandstone  does  not  cross  the 
State  line. 

The  conglomerate  and  sandstone  rocks  of  Northfield 
consist  of  rounded  pebbles  and  finer  particles  of  the  pri- 
mary rocks,  such  as  granite,  gneiss,  mica  slate,  quartz,  and 
angular  fragments  of  argillaceous  slate.  These  water- 
worn  fragments  are  cemented  together  by  a  paste  of  argil- 
laceous and  calcareous  matter,  and  are  colored  red  by  the 
per  oxide  of  iron.  The  cement  evidently  resulted  from 
the  abrasion  and  decomposition  of  primary  rocks,  and  was 
deposited  by  water  among  the  pebbles,  and  the  whole  was 
subsequently  indurated  by  the  influence  of  heat  produced 
during  the  elevation  of  the  primary  rocks.  In  several  pla- 
ces, beds  of  granite  are  seen  protruding  from  beneath  the 
sandstone. 

The  conglomerates  of  Northfield  and  of  Bernardstown 
are  represented,  in  Professor  Hitchcock's  Geological  Map 
of  Massachusetts,  as  the  New  Red  sandstone,  a  rock  which 
overlies  the  coal  measures  of  Europe  ;  and  at  one  time  it 
was  supposed  that  coal  might  be  found  beneath  the  sand- 
stone of  the  Connecticut  River. 

I  am  confident,  however,  that  no  coal  will  ever  be  found 
in  the  rocks  upon  which  the  sandstone  rests  in  this  section 
of  the  State,  for  they  do  not  belong  to  that  formation.  If 
the  sandstone  in  question  should  ultimately  prove  to  be  the 
New  Red,  it  must  be  considered  as  out  of  place  ;  and  it 
may  prove,  like  the  tertiary,  to  have  been  deposited  on  any 
rocks  that  happened  to  be  uppermost  at  that  epoch.  Sim- 
ilar phenomena  have  been  observed  on  the  continent  of 
Europe  and  in  this  country.  Whoever  examines  the  con- 
glomerates and  sandstones  here  described,  will  perceive 


SECTION  PARALLEL  TO  THE  CONNECTICUT  RIVER.   55 

that  the  hard  pebbles  of  quartz  and  granite  have  evidently 
been  rounded  by  the  action  of  long  continued  currents  of 
water.  We  may  therefore  conceive  that,  in  ancient  times, 
a  powerful  river  of  much  greater  dimensions  than  the 
present  Connecticut  poured  its  waters  through  the  high- 
lands, and  deposited  the  detritus  of  the  primary  rocks  of 
New-Hampshire,  and  the  slates  and  lime-stones  of  Ver- 
mont, in  an  estuary  at  that  time  existing  in  the  lower 
valley  of  the  Connecticut.  The  waters  of  such  a  river 
would  have  been  able  to  transport  these  loose  materials 
to  their  present  localities,  the  coarser  pebbles  being  left 
where  the  current  was  rapid,  while  the  finer  particles 
were  deposited  in  those  wide  valleys  where  the  current 
must  have  been  quite  moderate.  That  the  waters  of  the 
Connecticut  once  occupied  a  much  higher  level  is  incon- 
testible,  since  we  have  along  its  whole  course  regular  ter- 
races of  aqueous  deposition  far  more  elevated  than  the  wa- 
ters ever  rise  in  modern  times,  during  the  most  powerful 
freshets.  Ancient  water-marks  are  also  observed  abun- 
dantly on  the  rocky  ledges,  at  a  considerable  elevation 
above  the  present  bed  of  the  river.  That  the  sea  entered 
the  valley  of  the  Connecticut  in  former  times,  has  been 
most  fully  proved  by  the  interesting  researches  of  Profes- 
sor Hitchcock  and  others,  who  have  examined  the  deposits 
of  finer  slates  and  sandstones  in  the  lower  valley,  which 
contain  impressions  of  fishes  and  the  foot-prints  of  wading 
birds  of  gigantic  size.  All  the  facts  discovered  tend  to 
prove  that  the  sandstones  of  the  Connecticut  were  pro- 
duced by  a  deposition  of  ancient  alluvium  from  the  upper 
section  of  the  river,  and  that  the  fresh  waters  mingled 
with  those  of  the  sea,  at  least  as  far  up  as  Mount  Holyoke, 
and  that  the  deposit  took  place  anterior  even  to  the  erup- 
tion of  that  mountain,  since  the  trap  rocks  of  which  it  is 
composed  were  protruded  through  the  sandstone,  and  now 


56  ARGILLACEOUS    AND    METAMORPHIC    SLATES. 

rest  upon  its  surface,  where  they  spread  out  in  a  molten 
state,  and  now  overlap  the  sandstone. 

It  would  prove  highly  interesting,  did  our  limits  permit, 
to  carry  this  section  throughout  the  whole  valley  of  the 
Connecticut ;  but  this  will  not  be  expected  in  the  present 
Report,  which  will  be  limited  to  the  State  of  New-Hamp- 
shire and  its  immediate  borders. 


Argillaceous  and  Metamorphic  Slates. 

Our  great  longitudinal  section  begins  at  the  Connecticut 
River,  at  the  south-western  corner  of  the  State,  at  an  ele- 
vation of  462  feet  above  the  sea-level,  departing  from  the 
plains  of  Northfield  and  Bernardstown,  which  are  under- 
laid by  the  red  conglomerates  and  sandstones  before  de- 
scribed. 

We  shall  examine  next  the  argillaceous  and  metamor- 
phic  slates  on  which  the  sandstone  rests.  The  argillace- 
ous slates,  as  mentioned  in  a  former  section  of  this  Report, 
consist  of  clayey  particles,  which  were  originally  depos- 
ited by  water,  and  were  subsequently  indurated  by  the 
heat  of  rocks  thrown  up  in  an  ignited  state  beneath  them. 
Where  the  action  of  the  primary  rocks  was  moderated  by 
the  thickness  or  remoteness  of  the  strata  of  sedimentary 
rocks,  the  effect  upon  them  appears  to  have  been  simply  to 
produce  induration ;  but  where  there  was  an  immediate 
contact,  or  close  contiguity,  the  slates  underwent  consid- 
erable changes  in  structure  and  composition,  or  are  met- 
amorphic. 

In  the  towns  of  Leyden,  Bernardstown,  and  Guilford, 
may  be  observed  some  very  interesting  peculiarities  in  the 
disturbance  of  the  argillaceous  slates,  such  as  contortions 
of  the  strata,  shewing  that  they  were  once  plastic  and  soft, 
crossing  and  overlapping  of  strata,  effected  by  lateral 


ARGILLACEOUS    AND    METAMORPHIC    SLATES.  57 

thrusts,  and  the  gradual  passage  or  change  of  argillaceous 
into  micaceous  slate. 

The  Gorge  or  Leyden  Glen  is  frequently  visited  for  the 
sake  of  its  picturesque  beauty,  and  the  refreshing  coolness 
of  the  atmosphere,  which  renders  it  a  favorite  resort  for 
travellers  during  the  heat  of  midsummer.  The  curious 
will  also  enjoy  additional  pleasure  if  they  are  led  to  con- 
template the  singular  Geological  features  which  this  local- 
ity presents.  It  is  evident  that  the  slates  have  been  pow- 
erfully acted  upon  by  the  protrusion  of  rocks  beneath  them, 
the  strata  being  curved  and  bent  in  various  directions, 
while  the  argillaceous  slate  exhibits  a  passage  into  mica- 
ceous slate.  Veins  of  quartz  are  also  seen  running  through 
the  strata,  filling  fissures  originally  produced  by  rupture 
of  its  mass. 

In  the  town  of  Guilford  several  deposits  of  argillaceous 
slate  have  been  extensively  quarried,  so  that  the  situation 
and  structure  of  the  strata  are  exposed  to  view.  One  of 
the  most  remarkable  localities  in  this  town  is  the  slate 
ledge  owned  by  Mr.  Bruce. 

The  strata  at  this  quarry  are  very  remarkably  situated, 
and  to  persons  viewing  the  ledge  in  front,  the  slates  appear 
as  if  they  had  been  broken  by  a  crushing  force  from  above. 
On  more  minute  examination,  it  may  be  seen  that  such 
was  not  the  case,  but  this  apparent  disorderly  situation 
was  produced  by  a  crossing  and  overlapping  of  strata,  forc- 
ed out  from  their  original  position  by  a  lateral  thrust,  which 
may  have  been  effected  by  the  elevation  of  the  neighbor- 
ing and  subjacent  primary  unstratified  rocks. 

This  locality  also  exhibits  decisive  proof  of  the  fact 
formerly  mentioned,  namely,  that  the  slate  strata  were  suf- 
ficiently soft  at  the  epoch  of  this  disturbance  to  have  suf- 
fered considerable  flexure  without  breaking ;  and  we  can 
discover,  at  the  points  where  flexure  and  fracture  were  ef- 
fected, the  degree  of  flexibility  which  the  slate  possessed. 

8 

:.  V  " 


58 


ARGILLACEOUS    AND    METAMORPHIC    SLATES. 


The  following  diagram  exhibits  the  manner  in  which 
the  upper  strata  were  forced  over  those  now  below,  so  as 
to  overlap  and  curve  the  slates. 


Section  of  Bruce's  Slate  Quarry,  Guilford. 

On  the  face  of  the  quarry  the  strata  may  be  seen  cross- 
ing each  other  nearly  at  right  angles,  and  they  are  broken 
at  their  points  of  contact. 

This  quarry  is  wrought  to  considerable  extent  for  roof- 
ing slates,  which  are  solid  and  durable,  but  are  not  so 
smooth  as  those  from  Wales,  or  from  the  quarries  in  Maine. 
They  are  used  for  covering  roofs  of  houses  in  Brattleboro', 
and  cargoes  are  sent  down  the  Connecticut  River  in  boats. 

On  the  Western  side  of  the  Connecticut  River,  the  ar- 
gillaceous slate  rocks  predominate,  forming  the  sub-strata 
throughout  extensive  districts  in  Vermont,  and  include 
many  valuable  beds  of  limestone.  The  same  strata  extend 
across  the  river  into  New-Hampshire,  and  overlap  the  more 
ancient  primary  formations  of  Winchester,  Hinsdale,  Ches- 
terfield, Walpole,  Charlestown,  Unity,  and  Claremont,  ex- 
hibiting those  remarkable  and  interesting  metamorphoses 
in  structure  and  composition,  which  have  been  alluded  to 
in  a  former  section  of  this  Report.  It  is  well  known  in 
Europe  that  the  junctions  of  stratified  rocks  with  the  un- 
stratified,  are  the  points  most  highly  charged  with  metal- 


ARGILLACEOUS*     AND    METAMORPH1C     SLATES.  9 

liferous  ores  ;  hence  we  are  led  to  expect  many  interesting 
discoveries  in  the  district  traversed  by  this  sectional  line. 

Leaving  the  sandstone  rocks  of  Northfield,  and  proceed- 
ing northwardly,  we  pass  over  Long  Mt.,  in  Winchester, 
and  descend  to  the  borders  of  Ashuelot  River.  Long  Mt. 
is  composed  of  mica  slate  rocks,  the  strata  of  which  run 
N.  E.  and  S.  W.,  and  dip  to  the  N.  W.  The  same  strata 
are  seen  along  the  banks  of  the  Ashuelot  River,  in  Win- 
chester. Further  to  the  North  we  come  to  granite  and 
gneiss  rocks,  which  form  the  principal  basis  of  the  eastern 
parts  of  the  towns  of  Hinsdale  and  Chesterfield,  while  on 
the  western  side  we  again  observe  mica  slate  strata,  which 
pass  insensibly  into  argillaceous  slate,  which  is  frequently 
charged  with  iron  pyrites.  By  the  decomposition  of  this, 
bi-sulphuret  of  iron,  copperas  or  sulphate  of  iron,  and  bog 
iron  ores  are  formed.  The  copperas  acting  upon  the  ar- 
gillaceous matter  of  the  slate  rocks,  forms  sulphate  of  al- 
umina, which  frequently  is  seen  on  the  surface  of  moist, 
sheltered  ledges,  in  the  form  of  an  incrustation.  Bog  iron 
is  formed  from  the  solution  of  sulphate  of  iron,  which  is 
dissolved  from  the  decomposing  rock,  and  being  washed 
into  the  lowlands,  it  becomes  by  action  of  the  atmosphere 
converted  into  per  sulphate  of  iron,  which  is  decomposed 
by  the  vegetable  matters  in  the  soil,  and  apocrenated  bog 
iron  ore  is  formed  and  deposited  in  low  meadows,  or  on  the 
hill-sides. 

Veins  of  magnetic  iron  ore  are  said  to  have  been  found 
in  Winchester,  but  we  had  not  time  to  examine  the  local- 
ity during  the  measurement  of  this  section.  Iron  pyrites 
occurs  disseminated  in  the  argillaceous  slates  of  Chester- 
field, but  I  have  not  learned  whether  there  is  a  sufficient 
amount  of  the  ore  for  the  manufacture  of  copperas,  the 
specimens  having  been  sent  to  me  since  we  left  the  field. 
The  rocks  which  most  abound  in  this  town  are  mica  slate, 
the  strata  of  which  dip  to  the  §.  E.  Near  Spoiford's  pond 


60  WESTMORELAND. 

we  observed  the  junction  of  this  rock  with  the  gneiss,  the 
strata  of  which  dip  to  the  N.  W.  Near  this  point  is  a  cen- 
tre of  elevation,  as  shown  by  the  opposite  dipping  of  the 
strata. 

WESTMORELAND  is  underlaid  by  gneiss,  granite,  and  mica 
slate,  in  every  part  of  the  town  where  the  rocks  were  ob- 
served to  crop  out ;  but  there  is  reason  to  believe,  from  the 
direction  of  the  strata  of  argillaceous  slates  of  Hinsdale 
and  Chesterfield,  that  they  also  exist  in  the  western  bor- 
ders of  this  town,  but  are  concealed  by  the  superficial  soil. 

Many  interesting  minerals  occur  in  the  rocks  of  West- 
moreland, and  have  long  been  sought  for  by  mineralogists 
as  objects  of  study.  Some  attempts  have  been  made  by 
the  people  to  discover  valuable  ores,  but  most  of  their  re- 
searches have  been  fruitless.  I  was  informed  by  one  in- 
dividual that  he  had  spent  no  less  than  thirty  years  in 
search  of  gold  and  silver  ores,  and  he  was  still  firm  in  the 
belief  that  his  labors  would  be  eventually  rewarded  by 
such  a  discovery.  On  examining  the  mines  where  he  had 
spent  so  much  time  and  labor,  we  found  that  he  had  mis- 
taken some  very  small  veins  of  copper  and  iron  pyrites  for 
ores  of  the  precious  metals.  His  researches  had,  never- 
theless, resulted  in  the  discovery  of  some  very  fine  speci- 
mens of  fluor-spar,  and  tolerably  good  crystals  of  quartz. 
These  minerals  are  found  in  a  vein  which  is  situated  near 
the  North  Village,  on  a  hill-side  two  miles  S.  W.  from  the 
meeting-house.  The  vein  consists  chiefly  of  quartz  and 
fluor-spar,  with  a  few  small  strings  and  disseminated  crys- 
tals of  pyrites. 

The  fluor-spar  possesses  various  colors,  such  as  white, 
purple,  green  and  violet ;  but  the  light  green  variety  is 
most  abundant.  It  derives  its  name  from  the  circumstance 
of  its  being  used  by  metallurgists  for  a  flux  in  reducing 
metaliferous  ores.  It  is  from  this  mineral  that  chemists 
obtain  that  powerfully  corrosive  acid  which  has  the  prop- 


WESTMORELAND.  61 

erty  of  dissolving  silex,  and  forming  with  it  a  gas,  and  of 
etching  upon  the  surface  of  glass.  Good  specimens  are 
sought  for  by  mineralogists,  and  chemists  occasionally  re- 
quire it  in  their  analytical  operations,  but  it  has  only  a  ve- 
ry limited  sale. 

Fluor-spar  is  composed  of 

Fluorine  48.13 

Calcium  51.87 

or  of  two  equivalents  of  fluorine  to  one  of  calcium,  and 
yields  27.86  of  fluoric  acid 

72.14     of  lime. 

It  is  readily  cleaved  by  the  knife  into  its  primary  form, 
which  is  the  regular  octahedron  ;  also  into  tetrahedra  and 
rhomboids.  It  is  harder  than  calcareous  spar,  but  may  be 
easily  scratched  by  the  knife.  One  of  its  most  beautiful 
characters  is  its  brilliant  phosphorescence  when  thrown  on 
heated  iron. 

The  purple  varieties  of  fluor-spar  are  frequently  cut  and 
polished  in  the  forms  of  vases,  and  it  is  also  very  success- 
fully employed  by  the  Italians  in  mosaic  work,  to  repre- 
sent the  rich  colors  of  the  grape. 

In  the  South  part  of  Westmoreland  we  examined  a  vein 
of  sulphuret  of  molybdena,  which  has  been  opened  on  the 
estate  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  This  locality  is  one  of  great  in- 
terest to  mineralogists,  and  will  be  visited  by  many  per- 
sons for  the  sake  of  the  elegant  specimens  of  minerals 
which  have  been  brought  to  light  by  mining  operations. 
The  locality  is  situated  four  miles  South  of  the  North  Vil- 
lage meeting-house,  upon  the  top  of  an  eminence  956  feet 
above  the  sea-level.  The  vein  is  included  in  mica  slate 
rocks,  associated  with  gneiss.  The  strata  run  N.  E.  and 
S.  W.,  and  dip  to  the  W.  N.  W.  60°,  and  the  vein  runs 
nearly  in  the  same  direction.  The  sulphuret  of  molyb- 
dena is  associated  with  a  peculiar  blue  compact  felspar  and 


62  WESTMORELAND. 

quartz,  in  which  occur  enormous  crystals  of  the  phosphate 
of  lime,  a  mineral  of  considerable  rarity,  and  highly  prized 
by  mineralogists. 

On  the  surface  of  the  sulphuret  of  molybdena;  and  in 
cavities  in  the  gangue  occurs  a  bright  yellow  substance, 
which  is  supposed  to  be  a  peculiar  oxide,  or  a  sub-sulphate 
of  molybdena.  It  has  not  yet  been  analyzed. 

On  the  side  of  this  hill  a  drift  has  been  cut  into  the 
rock,  with  the  intention  of  striking  the  vein  lower  down, 
in  hopes  of  finding  ores  of  copper  or  of  tin,  which 
metals  an  English  miner  had  led  Mr.  Lincoln  to  expect  at 
a  lower  level.  The  work  was  abandoned  after  excavating 
a  gallery  in  the  rock  to  the  distance  of  33  feet,  without 
reaching  the  vein. 

It  is  true  that  sulphuret  of  molybdena  is  commonly  as- 
sociated with  tin  and  copper  ores,  but  it  does  by  no  means 
follow  that  wherever  we  find  that  mineral,  we  shall  find 
also  the  others.  If,  however,  a  few  crystals  of  oxide  of 
tin  had  been  found  scattered  in  the  molybdena  vein,  we 
should  have  some  reason  to  expect  a  larger  supply  in  its 
midst. 

Various  attempts  have  been  made  to  render  the  molyb- 
dena ore  useful  in  the  arts,  and  it  was  hoped  that  its  fine 
blue  oxide  might  serve  as  a  pigment  or  for  calico  printing, 
but  thus  far  no  valuable  result  has  been  attained. 

This  locality  will  furnish  a  most  abundant  supply  of 
sulphuret  of  molybdena,  and  should  be  kept  in  remem- 
brance, since  the  constant  and  rapid  improvements  in  the 
arts  may  eventually  discover  some  method  of  rendering  it 
useful.  At  present  it  is  destined  to  furnish  an  abundance 
of  fine  specimens  for  the  use  of  mineralogists  and  chem- 
ists, many  of  whom  will  visit  the  locality. 

A  few  rods  north  of  this  vein  occurs  a  small  deposit  of 
nodular  bog  manganese,  the  nodules  being  about  the 
size  of  walnuts.  It  occurs  at  the  outlet  of  a  small  drain 


W ALP OLE.  63 

from  a  little  peat-bog,  and  was  evidently  deposited  in  its 
present  situation  by  water. 

This  ore  will  serve  perfectly  for  the  generation  of  chlorine 
gas  from  muriatic  acid  for  bleaching,  but  owing  to  the  pres- 
ence of  apocrenate  of  iron  in  it,  it  does  not  give  out  pure  ox- 
ygen gas  when  heated  to  redness,  for  that  vegetable  acid  be- 
ing decomposed  by  heat  and  by  the  oxygen  of  the  mangan- 
ese, its  carbon  combining  with  the  oxygen,  carbonic  acid  is 
also  produced  at  the  same  time.  The  locality  will  furnish 
a  few  tons  of  manganese,  and  since  it  will  answer  for  gen- 
erating chlorine,  it  will  meet  with  a  ready  sale  at  the  pa- 
per-mills where  manganese  is  used  for  bleaching. 

Having,  through  the  kind  assistance  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  ob- 
tained specimens  of  all  the  minerals  which  occur  on  his 
estate,  we  proceeded  on  our  section  northwardly. 

From  Westmoreland  to  Walpole  the, rocks  are  granite 
and  gneiss.  A  few  beds  and  veins  of  milk  quartz  also  oc- 
cur. 

WALFOLE.  In  this  town  we  were  aided  by  Mr.  Frederic 
Vose  and  Dr.  Ebenezer  Morse,  who  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee for  the  purpose,  and  politely  rendered  such  assist- 
ance as  was  required. 

The  rocks  in  this  town  consist  of  mica  slate,  the  strata 
of  which  dip  to  the  N.  N.  W.  15°  or  20°.  Granite  beds 
are  also  observed  included  between  the  strata. 

These  rocks  may  be  viewed  near  the  village,  where  a 
small  and  rapid  brook  has  washed  the  soil  from  the  surface 
of  the  rocks. 

It  was  supposed  that  limestone  occurred  on  the  hill  near 
the  meeting-house,  but  we  could  not  find  any  trace  of  such 
a  rock.  South  of  Fall  Mountain,  near  Bellows  Falls,  a 
number  of  loose  masses  of  plumbago  were  dug  out  of  the 
soil,  immediately  beneath  the  brow  of  the  hill.  They 
appear  to  have  been  detached  from  the  rock  on  which  they 


64 


WALPOLE. 


rest,  since  the  masses  were  angular,  and  not  water-worn. 
The  rock  composing  the  mountain  is  plumbaginous  mica 
slate,  passing  into  argillaceous  slate  on  one  side,  and  grad- 
uating into  hard  mica  slate,  containing  fibrolite,  on  the 
other.  Near  the  house  of  Mr.  Milliken  the  slate  rocks  con- 
tain fine  crystals  of  macle  or  hemitropic  andalusite,  a  min- 
eral somewhat  rare.  Three  miles  North  from  the  Falls 
may  be  seen  the  junction  of  the  slate  rocks  with  gneiss, 
these  rocks  forming  the  northern  extremity  of  Fall  Mt. 
At  the  north  extremity  of  the  hill  the  gneiss  rocks  occur, 
dipping  to  the  S.  E.  At  the  junction  of  the  mica  slate 
with  the  gneiss,  a  union  of  the  two  rocks  is  formed. 
There  we  notice  a  dark  blue  quartz  rock,  which  is  followed 
by  indurated  argillaceous  slate,  which  passes  insensibly  in- 
to a  micaceous  clay  slate,  containing  crystals  of  macle. 
The  strata  are  overlaid  by  gneiss,  beneath  which  they  dip 
at  an  angle  of  50°. 


i   I 


Section  of  the  strata  near  Mr.  Milliken's,  Bellows  Falls. 


The  rocks  at  Bellows  Falls  consist  of  gneiss  and  mica 
slate,  the  strata  of  which  dip  to  the  S.  E.  These  rocks 
are  filled  with  masses  of  fibrolite,  which  being  almost  in- 
capable of  decomposition,  is  left  in  relief  on  the  surface  of 


ALSTEAD. 


65 


the  water-worn  rocks.  Fibrolite  is  harder  than  quartz, 
and  may  be  used  for  emery  when  it  is  pulverized  and 
washed  in  a  proper  manner.  It  is,  however,  difficult  to 
extract  from  the  hard  rocks  in  which  it  occurs  at  this  place. 

Near  Saxton's  River  the  rocks  consist  of  a  hard  variety 
of  gneiss,  in  the  crevices  of  which  occurs  a  rare  mineral, 
composed  of  fluoric  acid  and  alumina,  called  Wavellite. 
It  occurs  in  stellated  or  radiated  masses,  about  1-2  an  inch 
in  diameter.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Blake's  paper-mills, 
the  rocks  consist  of  mica  slate,-  the  strata  of  which  dip  S. 
E.  70°.  The  same  variety  of  rock  containing  fibrolite  ex- 
ists on  Fall  Mountain,  and  constitutes  its  principal  sub- 
strata. About  three-quarters  of  a  mile  northwardly  from 
Fall  Village,  on  the  Rockingham  road,  occurs  a  junction 
of  the  micaceous  and  argillaceous  slate  rocks.  At  that 
place  the  strata  run  N.  14°  E.,  S.  14°  W.,  and  dip  to  the 
westward  70°. 

Bellow's  Falls  has  long  been  favorably  known  to  trav- 
ellers, as  a  place  of  resort  in  the  warm  seasons,  on  ac- 
count of  the  beautiful  scenery  and  the  refreshing  coolness 
of  the  atmosphere.  In  ancient  times,  it  was  one  of  the 
favorite  haunts  of  the  aborigines,  remains  of  whose  rude 
sculpture  may  still  be  seen  on  the  rocks  below  the  falls. 

ALSTEAD.  In  this  town  granite,  gneiss  and  mica  slate 
abound.  The  strata  of  the  two  last  mentioned  rocks  run 
N.  E.,  S.  W.  arid  dip  to  the  north-west.  In  numerous 
places  may  be  seen  large  masses  of  mica  slate  completely 
decomposed,  and  in  the  state  of  a  micaceous  soil.  A  bed  of 
impure,  blue  limestone  is  exposed  by  the  cutting  for  a  road, 
but  it  is  not  sufficiently  strong  for  commercial  use. 

Eastward  of  the  Paper  Mill  Village,  there  occur  beds  of 
Potter's  clay,  arid  it  is  manufactured  into  bricks. 

The  most  important  locality  in  this  town,  is  the  mica 
quarry,  situated  upon  the  estate  of  Mr.  Goodhue,  31-2 
miles  S.  E.  from  the  New  A 1  stead  Post  Office. 


66  ACWORTH. 

The  mica  is  one  of  the  ingredfents  of  a  very  largely 
crystallized  granite,  composed  of  white  soda  felspar,  grey 
quartz,  and  huge  plates  of  transparent  and  colorless,  or 
reddish  colored  mica.  The  mica  is  extensively  quarried 
by  Mr.  James  Bowers  of  Acworth,  who  devotes  himself 
almost  exclusively  to  the  business,  and  sends  large  quan- 
tities of  mica  to  market.  There  are  two  quarries  opened 
in  this  town.  They  are  situated  near  each  other,  and  are 
both  wrought  by  Mr.  Bowers.  The  granite  containing 
the  mica,  is  evidently  a  huge  vein  in  mica  slate  rocks, 
through  which  it  has  been  erupted  nearly  in  a  line  with 
the  direction  of  the  strata. 

ACWORTH.  The  village  of  Acworth  stands  upon  very 
elevated  land,  which  is  1397  feet  above  the  sea  level.  The 
rocks  which  compose  the  mountains  are  principally  mica 
slate  and  granite,  the  latter  rock  constituting  large  veins 
in  the  former.  Hornblende  slate  and  quartz  rock  also  oc- 
cur on  and  around  William's  Hill,  an  eminence  situated  S. 
by  W.  from  Acworth,  M.  H.,  on  the  south  side  of  Cold 
River.  This  locality  has  enjoyed  great  celebrity  on  ac- 
count of  the  immense  crystals  of  beryl  which  have  been 
obtained  from  it,  and  have  been  sold  for  cabinet  specimens 
in  various  parts  of  the  world.  Some  of  the  crystals  are 
more  than  a  foot  in  diameter  and  eighteen  inches  in  length, 
but  they  are  like  all  gigantic  crystals,  defaced  by  striae 
and  cracks  which  injure  their  beauty.  Notwithstanding 
these  imperfections,  the  huge  dimensions  of  the  crystals 
has  produced  great  surprise  among  Mineralogists  and  Ge- 
ologists of  Europe.  One  of  these  beryls,  eight  inches  in 
diameter,  was  shewn  me  in  the  Imperial  Cabinet  of  Vien- 
na, as  a  wonderful  specimen,  and  was  a  very  highly  valu- 
ed present  to  that  superb  collection.  The  Acworth  be- 
ryls when  perfect  have  a  fine-light  blue  green  color  and  are 
of  that  variety  known  by  the  name  of  aqua-marine.  Frag- 
ments may  be  separated  from  some  of  the  large  masses 


AC  WORTH. 


67 


that  would  serve;  when  cut  and  polished,  for  jewelry. 
The  large  crystals  generally  are  not  sufficiently  free  from 
foreign  matters  for  this  purpose.  The  locality  from  whence 
these  beryls  were  obtained  may  still  yield  a  great  number 
of  valuable  specimens,  but  much  labor  is  required  in  blast- 
ing away  the  quartz  rock  which  overlies  them,  before  they 
can  be  detached.  They  occur  in  a  granite  vein  im- 
mediately beneath  a  large  vein  of  granular,  white  and  rose 
colored  quartz.  The  quartz  vein  runs  N.  W.  and  S.  E. 
and  forms  the  summit  of  the  hill,  and  is  no  less  than  forty 
yards  wide,  and  is  easily  quarried.  It  is  of  the  purest  and 
best  kind,  and  is  suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  glass  and 
for  sand  paper.  It  will  doubtless  soon  be  wrought  by  the 
N.  H.  Glass  Manufacturing  Company  at  Keene,  since  it  is 
situated  only  20  miles  from  their  works.  At  my  request, 
Mr.  Elliot,  superintendent  of  the  N.  H.  Glass  works,  has 
made  a  trial  of  this  quartz,  and  has  produced  some  fine 
tubes  for  chemical  use,  almost  equal  to  the  celebrated  Bo- 
hemian glass.  It  withstands  heat  admirably,  blows  and 
draws  perfectly  well. 

Black  tourmalines  and  largely  crystalized  white  soda 
felspar  or  Cleavlandite  occur  at  this  place,  but  the  speci- 
mens are  not  so  good  as  those  which  are  found  at  the  mi- 
ca quarries  of  Alstead. 

Mr.  James  Bowers  of  Ac  worth,  has  for  several  years  de- 
voted a  part  of  his  time  to  the  exploration  of  the  miner- 
als of  this  town,  and  keeps  a  collection  on  hand  for  sup- 
plying those  who  may  desire  to  purchase  specimens. 

On  the  western  side  of  William's  hill  occurs  a  very  re- 
markable bed  of  well  characterized  hornblende  slate  which 
is  cut  through  by  a  broken  vein  of  compact  felspar  in  a 
remarkable  manner,  evincing  many  ruptures  in  the  vein 
subsequent  to  its  injection.  The  strata  are  much  contor- 
ted near  their  junction  with  this  vein. 


68 


UN1TV. 


In  the  village  the  strata  of  mica  slate  are  observed  near 
the  Tavern,  where  the  strata  dip  to  the  W.  S.  W.  and  run 
N.  10°  W.,  S.  10°  E.  Several  small  veins  of  granite  and 
beds  of  quartz  also  occur  in  the  rock,  and  contain  masses 
and  crystals  of  iron  pyrites.  Further  north  the  dip  of  the 
strata  is  reversed,  the  inclination  being  to  the  E.  N.  E.  50°. 
Proceeding  to  Unity  and  Claremont,  the  road  forms  quite 
a  regular  inclined  plane,  descending  rapidly  to  the  north- 
ward. 

UNITY  possesses  many  interesting  localities,  some  of 
which  have  been  explored. 


UNITY.  69 

The  granular  quartz,  which  is  found  upon  the  estate  of 
Mr.  J.  M'Clure,  has  for  a  long  time  supplied  the  sand  pa- 
per works  of  Vermont  with  the  ground  and  sifted  mineral, 
employed  for  the  preparation  of  that  useful  article.  The  bed 
from  whence  the  quartz  is  obtained  is  included  in  granite, 
and  is  conveniently  situated  near  the  mill  where  it  is 
ground  and  bolted.  An  abundant  supply  of  the  rock  may 
at  any  time  be  obtained.  It  is-more  largely  granular  than 
the  quartz  of  Ac  worth,  but  is  easily  ground  to  powder 
in  a  common  grist  mill,  furnished  with  granite  mill  stones. 
About  30  or  40  tons  of  the  bolted  quartz  is  annually  pre- 
pared and  is  sold  for  $20  dollars  per  ton,  to  the  sand  paper 
makers  of  Rockingham,  Vt.  The  finest  powder  is  used 
for  polishing  metals,  and  is  a  good  substitute  for  emery. 
I  shall  have  occasion  to  refer  to  this  subject  more  fully 
in  the  economical  department  of  this  Report,  and  there- 
fore omit  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  value  of  this  sub- 
stance for  the  present.  Jft?& 

Half  a  mile  northwardly  from  Mr.  M'Clure's  house, 
there  is  a  strong  Chalybeate  spring,  which  has  enjoyed 
some  celebrity  in  the  cure  of  certain  derangements  of  the 
digestive  organs.  It  is  strongly  charged  with  salts  of  iron, 
and  possesses  tonic  properties. 

The  soil  around  the  spring  is  so  highly  charged  with 
sulphate  of  iron,  that  no  plants  are  able  to  grow  upon  it 
except  a  little  moss  in  some  places,  which  is  soon  black- 
ened and  destroyed  when  the  solution  of  copperas  in  the 
soil  becomes  concentrated  by  evaporation. 

Copperas  has  been  manufactured  from  this  soil,  simply 
by  the  process  of  leaching  and  evaporation.  In  1825,  Mr. 
Abner  Currier's  family  manufactured  100  Ibs.  of  copperas 
from  this  soil,  in  the  manner  above  mentioned.  It  is  how- 
ever of  little  economical  value,  since  copperas  is  now  more 
cheaply  made  on  a  large  scale  at  Straffbrd,  Vt. 

A  few  limited  deposits  of  bog  iron  ore  of  local  forma- 


70  UNITY, 

tion  occur  in  this  town,  but  none  appeared  of  sufficient 
magnitude  to  warrant  mining  operations. 

On  the  estate  of  Mr.  James  Neal,  we  examined  a  large 
vein  of  copper  and  iron  pyrites,  which  has  been  explored 
to  some  extent. 

This  vein  is  contained  in  gneiss,  and  runs  nearly  par- 
allel with  the  strata,  in  a  direction  N.  10°  E.,  S.  10°  W. 
and  dips  to  the  W.  by  N.  78°.  It  extends  along  the  top 
of  the  hill  for  the  distance  of  1,550  feet,  and  there  is  cov- 
ered in  the  valley  by  the  soil,  but  it  again  appears  on  the 
uplands  beyond.  From  our  observations,  we  can  say,  that 
the  whole  extent  of  the  vein  is  not  less  than  2,200  feet 
in  length,  and  its  width  at  the  opening  which  has  been 
made,  is  at  3  feet  from  the  surface  1  foot  and  8  inches,  and 
at  8  feet  it  is  3  feet  wide.  In  some  parts  of  the  vein  the 
width  is  3  feet  9  inches.  From  the  above  observations, 
it  will  be  perceived  that  the  vein  widens  as  it  descends 
and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  it  may  ultimately  be 
wrought  for  copper,  and  for  the  manufacture  of  sulphate 
of  iron.  (See  analysis  of  this  ore.) 

If  the  mine  is  ever  wrought,  it  will  be  found  easy  to 
effect  drainage  to  the  depth  of  70  feet.  It  is  situated  4 
miles  from  Charlestown  landing  on  the  Connecticut  River. 

At  this  place  we  discovered  a  new  mineral,  to  which  I 
have  given  the  name  Chlorophyllite.  (See  Report  on  the 
analyses  of  minerals.)  It  occurs  in  the  sienite  rocks 
which  are  found  imbedded  in  the  gneiss  near  the  cop- 
per mine.  Crystals  of  magnetic  iron  ore  in  octahedral 
forms  occur  disseminated  in  the  green  mica,  also  radiated 
actynolite  and  garnets.  Green  mica  also  occurs  associated 
with  the  Chlorophyllite. 

Near  the  northwestern  corner  of  Unity,  as  I  have  been  in- 
formed, the  argillaceous  slate  rocks  occur,  overlapping  the 
older  primary  strata.  A  quarry  has  been  opened  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  tomb  stones,  but  it  has  not  been 
much  wrought. 


HANOVER.  71 

Claremont  is  also  intersected  by  the  sectional  profile 
measured  by  Messrs.  Whitney  and  Williams,  who  have 
described  the  outlines  of  the  Geology  of  that  town.  It 
will,  therefore,  be  unnecessary  for  me  to  do  more  than  re- 
fer to  their  description  of  the  section  from  Portsmouth 
through  Concord  to  Claremont. 

Proceeding  northwardly  our  section  traverses  Cornish, 
Plainfield,  Lebanon  and  Hanover. 

From  Claremont  to  Meriden,  the  micaceous  slate  rocks 
prevail  and  are  occasionally  colored  by  the  presence  of 
plumbago.  The  strata  run  N.  20°  E.,  S.  20°  W.  and  dip 
to  the  E.  S.  E.  20°  Near  Cornish  Flat  the  mica  slate  be- 
comes more  silvery  in  its  lusture  and  is  not  colored  by  for- 
eign matter.  In  several  places  the  rock  splits  well  into 
platforms,  and  may  be  quarried  for  flagging  stone.  Mr. 
Hack  Hills  informs  me  that  good  tomb-stone  slates  are  ex- 
tensively quarried  1  1-2  miles  S.  E.  from  Cornish  Flat. 
The  stone  is  said  to  be  much  better  than  that  wrought  at 
Unity  and  Claremont.  It  is  exported  largely  for  sale,  and 
is  even  transported  to  Portland  in  Maine. 

In  Meriden  hornblende  slate  and  chlorite  slate  occur. 
The  latter  rock  extends  through  Lebanon  4  miles  towards 
Hanover,  where  it  is  interrupted  by  the  granite  rock.  The 
chlorite  slate  dips  to  the  north  westward. 

Bog  iron  ore  occurs  in  Lebanon,  and  has  been  examin- 
ed by  Mr.  Abel  Storrs,  who  not  being  at  home,  the  local- 
ity was  not  visited  by  our  party,  since  we  hoped  at  some 
other  time  to  have  the  assistance  of  that  gentleman  in  ex- 
ploring the  locality.  We  saw  some  very  good  specimens 
of  the  ore  in  the  Cabinet  at  Dartmouth  College,  but  it  was 
not  known  whether  the  locality  would  furnish  a  sufficient 
supply  for  economical  purposes. 

HANOVER,  has  been  pretty  thoroughly  explored  by  the 
professors  and  students  of  Dartmouth  College,  so  that  lit- 
tle remained  for  us  to  examine,  save  the  measurement  of 


72  LYME. 

our  sectional  line  through  the  town.  The  most  interest- 
ing rocks  which  occur,  are  the  hornblende  slates  which 
contain  an  infinite  number  of  small  but  perfect  crystals  of 
Almandine  or  precious  garnet  crystallized  in  their  prima- 
ry form,  of  the  rhombic  dodecahedron.  The  locality  from 
whence  the  best  specimens  are  obtained,  is  directly  in  the 
rear  of  the  Medical  College,  where  the  hornblende  slate 
crops  out  on  the  crest  of  a  moderate  hill,  the  strata  run- 
ning N.  40°  E.,  S.  40°  W.,  and  dipping  to  the  north-west- 
ward 40  degrees.  By  means  of  a  single  blast,  it  is  easy 
to  obtain  a  large  supply  of  very  fine  specimens. 

In  the  northern  part  of  this  town  plastic  clay  and  clay 
marl  occur  in  regular  strata,  which  are  nearly  horizontal. 
On  the  estate  of  John  Durkee,  Esq.,  the  marl  is  highly 
calcareous,  and  will  serve  for  fertilizing  the  soil.  Speci- 
mens of  this  marl  were  presented  to  me  by  Dr.  C.  B.  Ham- 
ilton, of  Lyme.  He  informed  me  that  attempts  were  made 
to  burn  it  for  bricks,  but  the  bricks  were  found  to  slake  and 
crack  when  exposed  to  the  action  of  water.  This  circum- 
stance led  him  to  suppose  that  the  clay  contained  lime, 
which  fact  has  been  most  fully  confirmed  by  analysis. 

{See  the  Chemical  department  of  this  Report.) 

Blue  limestone  occurs  also  in  the  northern  part  of  Han- 
over, and  is  of  sufficient  purity  for  the  manufacture  of 
lime  for  mortar,  and  for  agricultural  use.  (See  analysis.) 

LYME.  This  town  was  partially  examined  while  we 
were  engaged  upon  the  section,  but  much  still  remains  to 
be  done.  Many  highly  useful  substances  occur,  and  will 
need  a  more  full  survey.  Rev.  Mr.  Buck,  the  principal  of 
the  Academy,  has  already  collected  a  great  number  of 
highly  interesting  minerals  in  the  vicinity,  and  Dr.  Ham- 
ilton has  examined  a  deposit  of  clay  marl  which  is  quite 
valuable  for  agricultural  use. 

Aided  by  this  gentleman  we  visited  the  marl  beds,  and 
ascertained  the  existence  of  marl  throughout  an  extensive 


LYME.  73 

district.  It  occurs  in  thick  beds  on  the  cliff  and  on  the 
margin  of  a  brook,  and  between  the  East  and  West  Villa- 
ges on  both  sides  of  the  road.  The  marl  is  evidently  an 
ancient  alluvial  or  diluvial  deposit,  since  it  is  far  above 
the  level  of  any  stream  at  present  existing  in  this  region, 
It  was  formed  by  the  decomposition  and  disintegration  of 
a  blue  limestone,  fragments  of  which  are  still  found  im- 
bedded in  the  marl.  Where  the  marl  bed  is  exposed  to 
the  heat  of  the  sun,  the  surface  becomes  indurated  so  that 
it  requires  the  use  of  a  pick  in  digging  it  out  of  the  bank. 

The  richness  of  the  marl  may  be  estimated  coarsely  by 
pouring  upon  it  some  muriatic  or  nitric  acid,  and  judging 
by  the  degree  of  effervescence  which  takes  place  from  dis- 
engagement of  the  carbonic  acid  gas.  An  exact  analysis  of 
it  will  be  found  in  the  chemical  part  of  this  Report.  It  is 
evident  that  by  use  of  this  marl  the  farmers  may  highly 
improve  the  sandy  soils  in  the  West  Village  and  its  vicin- 
ity, and  it  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  attention  has  not 
before  been  paid  to  the  subject.  Dr.  Hamilton  says  that 
limestone  of  good  quality  and  marl  also  abound  in  the 
North  part  of  Lyme.  He  furnished  me  with  specimens 
which  have  been  carefully  analyzed  in  my  Laboratory,  as 
will  be  seen  reported  in  the  tables  of  chemical  analyses. 

During  our  next  campaign,  we  shall  ascertain  the  extent 
and  economical  value  of  those  beds  of  limestone,  and  shall 
examine  several  veins  of  metaliferous  ores  which  occur  in 
the  vicinity.  Some  masses  of  cyanite  have  been  found  in 
the  northwest  part  of  Lyme,  by  Mr.  Buck.  Copper  py- 
rites has  been  found. in  the  S.  E.  part  of  the  town.  Black 
tourmaline  in  distinct  crystals  occurs  in  the  rocks  in  large 
quantities.  One  small  but  beautiful  specimen  -of  quartz, 
containing  rutile,  has  also  been  found  in  the  soil.  Iron 
pyrites  occurs  on  the  estate  of  Mr.  Holt,  and  formerly  gave 
rise  to  absurd  expectations,  it  having  been  mistaken  for  an 
ore  of  the  precious  metals.  ' 

10 


74  ORFORD. 

The  mica  slate  rocks  which  crop  out  in  the  East  Vil- 
lage, along  the  borders  of  the  stream,  are  occasionally  im- 
pregnated with  disseminated  crystals  of  iron  pyrites.  It 
also  exhibits  a  gradual  passage  into  plumbaginous  clay 
slate.  The  strata  run  N.  E.  and  S.  W.,  and  dip  to  the 
N.  W.  52°.  Diluvial  boulders  of  granite  and  of  quartz  rock 
also  abound  on  the  surface. 

Two  small  veins  of  copper  pyrites  are  said  to  occur  in 
this  town,  to  the  eastward  of  the  East  Village,  but  our 
time  did  not  allow  us  then  to  visit  them. 

From  Lyme  to  Orford  the  rocks  are  mica  slate,  with  oc- 
casional veins  of  granite. 

ORFORD.  In  this  town  we  were  assisted  in  our  explor- 
ations by  Dr.  Hosford,  who  has  made  a  collection  of  the 
most  interesting  minerals  of  the  neighborhood.  Sunday 
Mt.,  in  the  South  part  of  the  town,  consists  of  granite 
which  is  of  good  quality,  and  is  quarried  to  some  extent. 
It  is  composed  of  white  felspar  and  black  mica,  and  con- 
tains but  little  quartz. 

Two  miles  North  from  the  village  occurs  an  immense 
bed  of  compact  talcose  slate,  which  answers  perfectly  for 
soapstone,  arid  is  quarried  to  some  extent,  but  may,  by 
proper  management,  be  made  to  furnish  an  almost  unlim- 
ited quantity  of  that  valuable  material.  The  bed  is  in- 
cluded in  mica  slate,  and  dips  with  the  strata  of  that  rock 
to  the  N.  10°,  W.  35°. 

The  mica  slate  may  be  seen  cropping  out  at  the  summit 
of  the  hill,  and  also  at  its  base ;  but  the  walls  of  the  tal- 
cose rock  have  not  been  fully  explored.  We  may,  how- 
ever, safely  estimate  the  thickness  of  the  bed  at  100  feet, 
and  it  probably  is  even  of  greater  dimensions.  The  pres- 
ent mode  of  quarrying  the  rock  is  troublesome  and  slow. 
The  workmen  who  hire  the  privilege  of  obtaining  the 
rock,  since  they  do  not  own  the  ledge,  are  unwilling  to 
expend  a  large  sum  in  clearing  the  quarry  so  as  to  obtain 


PIERMONT.  75 

a  good  head,  and  consequently  have  to  work  at  a  disadvan- 
tage. A  large  amount  could  be  profitably  expended  in 
preparing  the  quarry  so  that  the  stone  could  be  more  ea- 
sily obtained. 

CJove  brown  tourmaline,  which  is  a  rare  mineral,  occurs 
in  the  talcose  slate  in  large  crystals,  some  of  which  are 
more  than  two  inches  in  diameter  and  six  inches  in  length. 
They  are  rarely  found  with  perfect  terminations.  Radia- 
ted brown  tourmaline  is  much  more  abundant,  and  is  ea- 
sily obtained  at  the  quarry. 

The  composition  of  this  mineral  will  be  stated  in  the 
chemical  department  of  this  Report. 

Granular  limestone  also  occurs  in  Orford,  but  does  not 
appear  on  our  line  of  section.  Specimens  were  obtained 
for  analysis,  and  will  be  reported  in  another  department  of 
the  present  essay. 

PIERMONT.  Leaving  Orford  and  proceeding  northwardly, 
we  next  pass  through  Piermont,  the  rocks  on  the  route  be- 
ing uniformly  mica  slate  strata,  with  occasional  protruded 
masses  of  granite,  and  veins  of  quartz,  and  numerous 
dykes  of  greenstone  trap  rock. 

In  this  town  occurs  an  important  bed  of  micaceous 
specular  iron  ore,  which  was  examined  with  care.  This 
bed  occurs  on  an  eminence  known  as  Crosses'  Ore  Hill, 
which  is  4  1-2  miles  S.  E.  from  Haverhill  Corner.  The 
iron  ore  is  contained  in  stratified  quartz  rock,  and  follows 
the  course  and  dip  of  the  strata,  the  direction  being  N. 
15°  E.,  S.  15°  W.,  and  the  inclination  W.  by  N.  26  to  30°. 
We  traced  it  along  the  crest  of  the  hill  for  the  distance  of 
half  a  mile.  The  beds  are  very  numerous,  and  are  con- 
tiguous to  each  other. 

The  beds  of  iron  ore  vary  in  thickness  from  a  few  inch- 
es to  three  or  four  feet.  At  the  southern  extremity  of  the 
hill,  the  ore  presents  itself  in  larger  beds,  the  outcropping 


76  PIEKMONT. 

ends  and  edges  being  fully  exposed  to  view.  At  this  ex- 
tremity of  the  bed  it  is  best  to  commence  the  work  of 
mining,  if  the  ore  is  to  be  wrought,  since  it  may  be  more 
readily  transported  to  the  road  below  and  from  thence  to 
a  furnace.  The  slope  of  the  hill  is  at  an  angle  of  from  22 
to  25  degrees  to  the  road,  and  is  quite  regular,  so  that  a 
slide  may  be  constructed  for  transportation  of  the  ore  to 
the  road. 

The  highest  crest  of  the  hill  is  about  300  feet  above 
the  immediate  base,  and  at  the  south  extremety  of  the  bed, 
the  elevation  is  from  150  to  200  feet  above  the  road  be- 
low. There  appears  to  be  a  sufficiency  of  iron  ore  at  this 
locality  to  warrant  the  erection  of  a  blast  furnace.  Sev- 
eral loads  of  the  ore  have  already  been  converted  into  good 
cast  and  bar  iron  at  Mr.  Huxan  Paddock's  furnace  in  St. 
Johnsbury,  Yt.  Numerous  specimens  of  the  ore  have 
been  analyzed  in  my  laboratory  during  the  past  winter,  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  chemical  department  of  this  Report. 

Owing  to  the  presence  of  a  small  proportion  of  oxide  of 
titanium  in  this  ore,  it  is  more  difficult  to  reduce  than  some 
other  varieties,  but  this  is  not  a  serious  obstacle,  consider- 
ing the  minute  proportion  of  titanium  which  the  ore  con- 
tains. It  is  always  advisable  to  mix  such  heavy  ores  with 
bog  iron  ore,  if  it  can  be  obtained,  since  it  serves  to  facil- 
tate  the  reduction  of  the  specular  iron  ore,  and  lightens  the 
charge  in  the  furnace.  A  limited  deposit  of  compact  and 
dry  bog  iron  was  found  near  the  base  of  the  hill,  but  not 
in  sufficient  quantity  to  render  it  available. 

Another  small  deposite  exists  on  a  branch  of  the  Olive- 
rian  stream,  but  the  quantity  is  said  to  be  insufficient  for 
iron  works. 

In  the  bed  of  specular  iron  ore  occur  occasional  mass- 
es and  veins  of  sulphate  of  barytes,  a  mineral  com- 
monly used  for  the  adulteration  of  white  lead. 

On  the  hill  opposite  the  specular  iron  ore,  on  the  land 


HAVERHILL.  77 

of  Mr.  Thomas  Cross,  there  are  several  small  veins  of 
magnetic  iron  ore,  varying  in  width  from  1  to  4  inches, 
which  alone  would  not  be  considered  of  any  economical 
value,  but  these  small  veins  will  furnish  a  valuable  con- 
tribution to  a  blast  furnace,  where  the  specular  iron  ores 
may  be  smelted. 

Green,  white  and  brown  micas  are  found  associated  with 
this  ore. 

A  few  fine  crystals  of  phosphate  of  lime  of  the  variety 
called  apatite,  occur  imbedded  in  masses  of  limestone, 
which  are  found  loose  at  the  base  of  the  hill. 

Attempts  have  recently  been  made  to  discover  coal  in 
the  plumbaginous  mica  slate  of  this  town,  but  as  might 
have  been  anticipated,  without  success,  since  the  rocks  do 
not  belong  to  the  coal  formation.  On  our  route  from  Pier- 
mont  to  Haverhill  Corner,  we  passed  over  nine  dykes  of 
greenstone  trap  rock,  which  have  been  erupted  through  the 
mica  slate  rocks.  Some  of  these  dykes  consist  of  the  por- 
phyritic  trap  which  usually  is  the  most  ancient  variety. 

HAVERHILL.  During  our  sojourn  in  this  town,  His  Ex- 
cellency Governor  Page  kindly  devoted  his  time  and  per- 
sonal attention  to  the  survey,  and  aided  us  in  the  work. 

With  him  we  visited  several  localities  before  described, 
and  those  which  will  next  occupy  our  attention. 

The  plain  at  Haverhill  Corner  is  covered  mostly  with  an- 
cient alluvial  soil,  which  conceals  the  rocks,  but  the  strata 
may  be  examined  on  the  hills  and  mountains  around 
where  their  outcropping  edges  are  fully  exposed.  Mica 
slate  is  the  predominating  rock,  and  it  is  occasionally  in- 
terrupted by  veins  and  beds  of  granite  and  quartz  rock. 
Extensive  beds  of  excellent  limestone  are  also  included 
in  the  mica  slate.  Many  curious  and  useful  simple  min- 
erals were  also  found  in  veins  traversing  that  rock. 

Granite  of  good  quality  exists  abundantly  on  Catamount 


78  HAVERHILL. 

Hill,  situate  south  westward  from  the  village.  The 
hill  is  mostly  composed  of  tabular  sheets  of  granite, 
which  affords  great  facilities  to  the  quarryman.  The 
sheets  of  granite  have  no  stratified  structure,  but  are 
pseudo-strata.  They  slope  to  the  W.  N.  W.  20°,  arid 
large  platforms  are  readily  split  off  and  taken  down  the 
sloping  hill.  This  stone  is  extensively  quarried,  and  is  used 
in  Haverhill  for  fence  posts  and  for  underpinning.  Large 
quantities  are  also  sent  over  into  Vermont  for  sale,  and  it 
is  even  transported  to  markets  20  miles  distant. 

Among  the  interesting  minerals  which  have  been  found 
in  Haverhill,  we  may  mention  small  veins  of  copper  and 
iron  pyrites,  sulphurets  of  lead  and  of  zinc,  native  arsen- 
ic, arsenical  pyrites,  large  crystals  of  garnet  in  chlorite, 
some  of  which  are  1  1-2  inch  in  diameter,  and  are  crys- 
tallized in  the  primary  form,  Talcose  rock  or  soapstone 
and  granular  white  limestone  of  excellent  quality. 

The  extent  and  value  of  these  minerals  were  care- 
fully ascertained,  and  specimens  of  them  were  collect- 
ed for  the  State  cabinet  and  for  chemical  analysis.  Sev- 
eral of  those  first  mentioned  were  discovered  by  Mr. 
Roswell  Wilmott,  who  has  a  decided  taste  for  miner- 
ological  researches,  and  has  been  quite  successful  in  learn- 
ing the  characteristics  of  such  specimens  as  he  could  ob- 
tain in  his  vicinity.  The  copper  pyrites  occurs  in  a  vein 
of  white  quartz  traversing  mica  and  hornblende  slate  stra- 
ta, on  the  estate  of  Mr.  Francis  Kimball,  between  the 
Great  Ammonusuck  and  the  Wild  Ammonusuck  Rivers. 

The  vein  is  from  1  to  4  inches  wide,  and  is  quite  irreg- 
ular ;  the  copper  ore  occurring  in  bunches  or  nests  in  the 
quartz.  Galena  or  sulphuret  of  lead,  and  blende  or  sul- 
phuret  of  zinc  are  also  found  in  the  same  situation.  The 
direction  of  the  vein  is  N.  10°  W.,  S.  10°  E.  It  inter- 
sects the  strata  at  an  angle  of  70°,  the  mica  slate  strata 
running  N.  and.  S.,  sloping  to  the  westward. 


HAVERHILL.  79 

Passing  over  the  hill  to  the  west,  we  next  came  to  a 
dark  blue  variety  of  mica  slate,  which  is  stained  by 
plumbago  and  iron  pyrites.  This  rock  includes  beds  of 
native  arsenic,  which  is  so  free  that  it  is  volatilized  by  the 
heat  of  the  sun,  giving  a  strong  garlicky  odor  to  the  at- 
mosphere on  a  hot  day.  When  struck  by  the  hammer  the 
arsenical  odor  is  very  strongly  perceived.  The  arsenic  is 
in  thin  layers,  forming  beds  with  the  slate  3  or  4  inches 
in  thickness.  It  is  probable  that  ores  of  cobalt  will  be 
found  associated  with  this  mineral.  Mr.  Wilmot  thinks 
that  he  found  traces  of  it  in  one  of  his  specimens. 

White  and  magnetic  iron  pyrites  also  are  found  at  this 
place.  In  one  of  the  dykes  of  trap  rock  on  the  hill,  there 
is  so  much  magnetic  pyrites  scattered  in  fine  particles  in 
the  rock  as  to  give  it  a  decided  polarity,  so  that  approach- 
ing a  compass  to  one  point  on  the  rock  the  needle  points 
to  it,  and  is  reversed  when  the  compass  is  carried  a  few 
inches  beyond  it.  Yet  there  is  nothing  more  to  be  seen 
at  that  point  in  the  rock  than  elsewhere  in  the  ledge.  It 
is  merely  a  magnetic  pole  of  the  mass. 

The  mica  slate  rocks  of  Vermont  and  New-Hampshire 
frequently  include  valuable  beds  of  limestone^  which  is 
generally  crystalline  in  its  character,  and  exhibits  no  re- 
mains of  fossils.  This  variety  of  limestone  is  supposed 
by  many  distinguished  Geologists  to  have  been  originally 
an  aqueous  deposit  of  marine  shells  and  corals,  which  subse- 
quently were  melted  into  crystalline  carbonate  of  lime  by 
heat,  while  the  pressure  of  superincumbent  rocks  and  of 
the  ocean,  prevented  the  escape  of  the  carbonic  acid  gas. 
By  artificial  experiments,  Sir  James  Hall  long  ago  dem- 
onstrated the  probability  of  such  a  metamorphosis,  and 
since  then  Von  Buch,  Elie  De  Beaumont,  Dufrenoy  and 
others,  have  by  observation,  proved  that  many  lime- 
stones, originally  consisting  of  shells,  have  been  convert- 


80  HAVERHILL. 

ed  into  granular  marble  and  crystallized  limestone,  by  the 
agency  of  erupted  rocks. 

I  have  seen  but  one  locality  near  the  upper  waters  of 
the  Connecticut,  where  any  traces  of  organic  forms  could 
be  discovered  in  the  limestone,  and  in  that  instance,  if  re- 
mains of  corallines  originally  existed,  they  have  been  so 
altered  that  no  trace  of  organic  structure  remains.  By 
means  of  extended  researches  on  the  Vermont  side  of  the 
Connecticut  river,  we  may  perhaps  be  able  hereafter  to 
satisfactorily  account  for  the  origin  of  the  limestone  in 
question. 

From  observations  at  other  localities,  I  am  disposed 
to  consider  all  those  limestones  which  were  formerly  cal- 
led primary  as  metamorphic  rocks,  produced  in  the  man- 
ner before  stated.  It  is  also  an  interesting  fact,  that  the 
limestones  in  the  mica  slate  in  the  region  about  to  be  de- 
scribed, are  free  from  magnesia,  while  those  beds  in  other 
portions  of  the  country,  which  are  included  in  talcose  slate 
and  hornblende  rock,  or  which  occur  in  the  vicinity  of  ser 
pentine  rocks,  are  generally  magnesian,  especially  where 
in  contact  with  those  magnesian  rocks. 

Our  present  section  passes  over  an  important  bed  of 
limestone,  which  occurs  about  six  miles  north-east- 
ward from  Haverhill  Corner,  on  the  west  side  of  Black 
Mountain,  and  to  the  north-west  of  the  Sugar  Loaf,  near 
the  foot  of  which  it  was  first  discovered,  forming  the  ba- 
sin of  a  small  spring.  This  spring  had  excavated  a  deep 
well  in  the  rock,  so  that  a  pole  could  be  thrust  down  to 
the  depth  of  twenty  feet.  Some  person  visiting  this  spring 
as  a  curious  natural  well,  suggested  that  the  white  rock 
might  be  limestone,  and  upon  trial  this  proved  to  be  the 
case.  A  portion  of  the  rock  was  quarried  out  and  burnt 
into  lime,  but  no  attempt  was  made  to  ascertain  the  extent 
and  value  of  the  bed.  The  first  attempts  made  to  burn 
the  rock  into  lime  were  exceedingly  rude  and  imperfect, 


HAVERHILL.  81 

so  that  the  locality  did  not  acquire  a  favorable  reputation. 
I  have  since  ascertained  that  the  limestone  forms  regular 
beds  of  great  dimensions  and  that  it  will  make  excellent 
lime.  The  first  opening  was  made  adjacent  to  the  spring 
where  the  limestone  is  of  a  beautiful  white  colour  and 
is  highly  crystalline.  Strata  marks  are  indicated  by 
light  brown  streaks  containing  mica.  These  streaks  resist 
the  action  of  the  weather,  and  stand  out  in  relief  where  the 
limestone  is  worn  away.  The  wall  rock  of  the  bed  is  mica 
slate,  but  its  boundaries  have  not  yet  been  fully  disclosed. 

The  second  opening,  a  few  rods  distant,  exhibits  a  reg- 
ular bed  of  limestone,  shaded  slightly  with  blue,  like  that 
of  Thomaston  in  Maine.  It  is  included  in  mica  slate,  the 
strata  of  which  run  N.  57°  E.,  S.  57°  W.,  and  dip  N.  W. 
60  degrees.  The  limestone  measured  at  right  angles  to 
its  direction  is  23  feet  4  inches  wide. 

The  third  opening  was  made  in  a  pasture,  and  discloses 
the  other  extremity  of  the  bed  first  described.  The 
whole  width  of  this  limestone  is  400  feet,  and  its  pres- 
ent observed  length  is  about  800  feet,  but  it  is  evident 
that  it  runs  with  the  strata  to  a  much  greater  distance 
and  will  probably  be  found  to  continue  south-westward, 
forming  a  bed  several  miles  in  length.  If  the  map  of  the 
State  is  correct,  it  should,  from  its  course,  run  very  near 
the  north  part  of  the  village  at  Haverhill  Comer.  At 
present,  the  superficial  soil  prevents  our  ascertaining 
whether  this  is  the  case. 

Mr.  W.  Gannett  has  purchased  the  limestone  beds  above 
described,  and  has  secured  a  most  valuable  tract  of  wood- 
land for  the  supply  of  fuel.  New  and  improved  kilns  will 
be  erected,  and  lime  will  be  furnished  in  abundance,  on 
very  reasonable  terms. 

This  locality  is  of  inestimable  value  to  the. State,  saving 
a  vast  outlay  for  foreign  lime,  while  it  is  evident  from  the 

analysis  of  the  rock,  that  Haverhill  lime  will  prove  to  be 

t 

11 


82  BATH. 

of  a  superior  quality.      (See   chemical  analysis   of  this 
limestone. ) 

BATH.  Prom  Haverhill  Corner  to  Bath,  we  observed 
the  mica  slate  rocks  in  regular  strata,  which  dip  to  the 
south-eastward,  and  run  north-east  and  south-west. 

Two  dykes  of  greenstone  trap  intersect  the  strata  and 
alter  the  texture  of  the  rock.  In  one  place  we  observed 
the  mica  slate  possessing  strong  magnetism  with  polarity, 
so  as  to  reverse  the  compass  needle.  This  was  probably 
owing  to  the  presence  of  minute  grains  of  magnetic  py- 
rites in  the  rock.  In  Bath,  near  the  bridge,  occurs  a  hard 
flinty  slate  passing  into  mica  slate.  It  is  evidently  an  al- 
tered rock.  Several  specimens  of  Galena  or  sulphuret  of 
lead  were  presented  to  me  for  examination.  It  forms  a 
small  vein  with  quartz,  and  occurs  on  the  town  farm,  but 
is  not  supposed  to  be  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  prove  val- 
uable. On  cupelling  a  fragment  of  this  galena,  it  was 
found  to  contain  a  small  proportion  of  silver,  but  it  would 
not  be  worth  extracting,  unless  very  large  quantities  of  the 
ore  could  be  obtained.  Pyritiferous  slate  also  occurs,  but 
it  does  not  appear  to  be  sufficiently  rich  for  the  economi- 
cal manufacture  of  alum. 

The  slate  containing  this  sulphuret  of  iron,  has  been 
mistaken  for  the  shale  of  the  coal  formation,  and  attempts 
were  formerly  made  to  discover  coal  in  it,  but  of  course 
unsuccessfully. 

Brick  clay  is  abundant  in  Bath,  and  extensive  yards  ex- 
ist for  the  manufacture  of  bricks. 

I  was  informed  that  some  of  the  clay  beds  would  not 
make  brick  of  good  quality,  and  on  examirig  them,  ascer- 
tained that  they  contained  a  small  proportion  of  carbonate 
of  lime,  but  not  sufficient  to  entitle  the  clay  to  rank  as  a 
calcareous  marl.  The  calciferous  clay  occurs  in  thin 
seams,  and  can  be  distinguished  readily  by  pouring  a  lit- 


NORTHERN    SECTION.  b6 

tie  muriatic  acid  upon  the  clay,  when  effervescence  will 
take  place,  owing  to  the  decomposition  of  the  carbonate 
of  lime  by  the  acid  andthe  disengagement  of  its  carbonic 
acid  gas. 

I  was  informed  of  the  existence  of  some  small  veins  of 
iron  and  lead  ores  in  Landaff,  but  was  unable  at  that  time 
to  visit  them.  Specimens  were  obtained  and  have  been 
analysed  in  my  laboratory.  (See  reports  of  analyses  of 
minerals,) 

The  remainder  of  this  section  was  explored  by  nay  as- 
sistants, who  present  the  following  Report : 


Geology  and  Topography  of  the  Northern  corner  of  the 
State,  by  Messrs.  Whitney  and  Williams. 

The  principal  object  in  our  short  excursion  to  the  Indian 
Stream  settlement,  and  the  country  lying  near  the  Magal- 
loway,  was  to  procure  the  necessary  Geological  informa- 
tion for  the  map  to  be  published  in  the  final  report,  and  al- 
so to  obtain  what  topographical  information  we  could  with 
regard  to  the  heights  of  the  mountains,  courses  of  the  ri- 
vers, and  nature  of  the  soil,  since  but  little  has  been  done 
with  any  degree  of  accuracy  in  that  far-removed  section 
of  the  State. 

Besides  the  usual  difficulties  attendant  on  such  investi- 
gations in  the  woods,  we  were  obliged  to  contend  with  a 
severe  storm  of  rain  and  snow,  which  for  twenty-two  days 
continued  to  impede  our  progress. 

The  rocks  of  the  section  extending  from  Haverhill 
North,  are  almost  entirely  mica  slate,  often  much  contorted 
and  filled  with  quartz  veins,  with  occasional  veins  of  in- 
jected granite,  and  it  is  not  till  we  arrive  at  Stewartstown 
that  we  find  the  first  signs  of  the  clay  slate,  in  numerous 
boulders  scattered  over  the  tops  of  the  high  hills  in  that  vi- 


84  NOKTHERN    SECTION. 

cinity.  The  character  of  the  soil  then  undergoes  a  mark- 
ed change,  becoming  more  retentive,  and  is  peculiarly 
adapted  to  the  culture  of  wheat,  as  we  were  assured  by 
the  intelligent  farmers  in  that  vicinity. 

The  surface  of  the  vicinity  of  Stewartstown  is  compo- 
sed almost  entirely  of  diluvial  detritus,  brought  from  the 
North,  which  is  piled  up  in  hills,  some  of  them  of  consid- 
erable elevation.  The  materials  here  accumulated  have 
evidently  been  brought  in  a  finely  divided  state  from  the 
clay  slate  and  limestone  beds  which  extend  across  the  ex- 
treme North  of  the  State  and  the  adjacent  regions  of  Can- 
ada, since  no  such  rock  exists  in  place  for  a  great  distance 
to  the  South. 

South  Hill,  in  Stewartstown,  is,  from  our  observations, 
about  2000  feet  above  the  sea-level. 

The  road  from  Stewartstown  to  the  Indian  Stream  set- 
tlement, at  the  outlet  of  Connecticut  Lake,  is  almost  impas- 
sable for  wagons.  This  village,  which  is  the  most  northerly 
inhabited  place  in  New  Hampshire,  may  consist  of  a  do- 
zen houses.  The  whole  Indian  Stream  settlement,  so  call- 
ed, comprises  315  persons,  according  to  the  last  census. 
The  falls  of  the  Connecticut,  at  the  outlet  of  the  lake, 
furnish  excellent  water  power,  on  which  a  saw-mill  is  al- 
ready built.  The  shores  of  this  lake  and  the  country  ad- 
joining are  gently  undulating.  Camel's  Rump,  rising  in 
the  N.  E.,  is  the  only  high  mountain  seen  from  this  point. 
Connecticut  Lake  is  about  1624  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea. 

The  descent  from  the  2d  Lake,  as  it  is  commonly  called, 
to  the  first  or  largest  Connecticut  Lake,  is  rapid.  The 
course  of  the  river,  which  is  here  hardly  more  than  a 
small  brook,  is  among  large  boulders  of  granite  and  clay 
slate,  but  no  where  are  the  rocks  to  be  seen  in  place. 

After  crossing  the  second  Lake,  we  continued  our  march 
eastward  over  the  range  of  hills  which  separate  the  waters 


NORTHERN    SECTION.  85 

flowing  into  the  Magalloway  from  those  which  empty  into 
the  Connecticut.  The  highest  point  observed  by  us  was 
about  2130  feet  above  the  sea-level. 

From  the  2d  Lake  to  the  State-line  we  suppose  to  be 
about  5  1-2  miles.  After  meeting  with  the  State-line,  we 
continued  to  follow  it,  till,  at  a  distance  of  about  5  miles 
from  our  camp,  we  arrived  at  the  base  of  Camel's  Rump 
Mt.  Here  we  lost  all  traces  of  the  line,  which  is  very  in- 
distinctly spotted,  and  evidently  has  not  been  touched  for 
many  years.  After  spending  some  time  in  searching 
for  the  point  where  the  line  must  have  crossed  the  moun- 
tain, we  gave  it  up  and  ascended  to  the  summit,  where  we 
pitched  our  tent.  Here  we  remained  for  two  days  during 
one  of  the  violent  storms  so  common  in  this  elevated  re- 
gion, which  borders  on  the  high  table-land  of  Canada. 
The  last  day  being  clear,  and  the  barometer  having  risen 
apparently  to  its  usual  height,  we  have  calculated  from 
the  observations  the  approximate  height  of  the  mountain 
at  3615  feet  above  the  sea-level.  This,  it  will  be  seen,  is 
one  of  the  highest  mountains  in  the  State  next  to  the 
White  Mountain  range.  Its  geological  character  is  pecu- 
liar. The  specimens  which  we  obtained  from  various 
parts  of  the  mountain  from  the  rock  in  place,  consisted  of 
amorphous  masses  of  hornstone,  of  various  hues  of  color, 
from  a  light  apple  green  to  almost  black.  The  mountain 
is  covered  with  a  low  and  tangled  undergrowth,  with  stun- 
ted fir-balsams  and  spruce.  We  regret  that,  owing  to 
foul  weather  and  the  exhausted  state  of  our  stock  of  pro- 
visions, our  observations  were  not  sufficiently  extensive  to 
determine  whether  this  singular  rock  was  erupted  from  be- 
low in  a  state  of  fusion,  or  was  altered  from  clay  slate,  or 
whether  its  peculiar  character  is  owing  to  large  masses  of 
underlying  trap-rock. 

It  is  not  probable  that  this  mountain  was  ever  before 
ascended  by  white  men.  for,  though  we  searched  diligent- 


86  NORTHERN    SECTION. 

ly,  we  were  unable  to  find  any  marks  of  former  visitants, 
such  as  spotted  trees  or  bushed  paths.  But  although  the  as- 
cent was  difficult,  we  were  amply  repaid  by  the  magnificent 
extent  of  the  view  which  was  displayed  before  us  as  the 
veil  of  clouds  gradually  rolled  away  before  the  wind.  In 
the  North,  a  series  of  high  hills  stretching  beyond  each 
other  for  five  or  ten  miles,  which  divide  the  waters  flow- 
ing into  the  St.  Lawrence  from  those  of  the  Magalloway 
and  Connecticut,  beyond  which,  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach,  lay  the  extended  table-lands  of  Canada,  unbroken 
by  any  abrupt  -elevation.  To  the  East,  the  lofty  granite 
ranges  of  Maine,  Mt.  Bigelow  and  Mt.  Abraham,  Farther 
South,  the  numerous  large  lakes  near  Umbagog  and  the 
Diamond  Hills,  while  in  the  farthest  distance  were  seen 
the  lofty  peaks  of  the  White  Mountains,  and  to  the  West 
lay  the  Lakes  and  tributary  streams  of  the  Connecticut, 
and  the  rolling  ranges  of  the  Green  Mountains. 

As  our  stock  of  provisions  was  entirely  exhausted,  we 
were  obliged  to  descend  the  mountain  and  return  to  our 
camp,  without  visiting  the  monument  which  marks  the 
boundary  between  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and  Canada, 
intending  to  return  after  obtaining  a  further  supply  of  pro- 
visions, in  order  to  explore  the  Magalloway  to  its  sources. 

In  this  intention  we  were  disappointed,  by  continued 
and  severe  storms,  and  the  extremely  low  water  in  the 
river,  which  rendered  it  impossible  for  our  canoe  to  as- 
cend. 

The  width  of  the  Magalloway  at  the  most  northerly 
point  where  we  saw  it,  which  could  not  have  been  more 
than  four  or  five  miles  from  the  monument,  as  laid  down 
on  the  map  of  the  State  by  Carrigain,  seemed  to  confirm 
the  opinion  of  Dr.  Stephenson,  who  in  his  description  of  this 
section,  in  Dr.  Jackson's  Third  Annual  Report  on  the 
Geology  of  Maine,  declares  that  the  boundary  line  is  sev- 
eral miles  too  far  South  ;  or,  in  other  words,  that  the  water- 


NORTHERN    SECTION.  97 

shed  lines  between  the  sources  of  the  Magalloway  and 
the  Chaudier,  have  not  been  ascertained  with  sufficient  ac- 
curacy. 

The  examination  of  the  country  adjacent  to  the  river 
presented  little  of  interest  to  the  geologist.  The  banks 
of  the  river  consist  mostly  of  an  alluvial  deposit,  raised 
only  a  few  feet  from  its  level,  and  stretching  back  several 
miles  on  either  side.  Rarely  are  the  rocks  seen  in  place. 
The  shores  of  Parmachene  Lake  are  lined  with  rounded  peb- 
bles of  granite,  jasper,  and  hornstone,  except  at  the  south- 
ern point,  where  the  blocks  of  granite  are  very  large  and 
angular,  and  piled  together  in  the  greatest  confusion.  Tal- 
cose  slate  occurs  in  place  on  the  river. 

At  the  point  where  the  river  enters  within  the  limits  of 
New  Hampshire,  the  rocks  are  uniformly  granite,  which 
extend  from  near  Capt.  Wilson's,  in  Township  No.  5, 
2d  range  in  Maine,  to  the  North  of  Clear  stream,  where  we 
left  our  canoe,  in  order  to  cross  on  foot  and  return  to  Cole- 
brook,  there  being  a  tolerable  road  from  Capt.  Bragg's,  in 
Errol,  through  the  Dixville  Notch  to  Colebrook. 

This  Notch  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  remar- 
kable exhibitions  of  natural  scenery  in  the  State,  perhaps 
even  surpassing  the  famous  Notch  of  the  White  Mountains 
in  picturesque  grandeur. 

A  natural  defile  through  the  high  mountains  which  ex- 
tend in  a  general  North  and  South  direction  through  the 
town  of  Dixville,  affords  admirable  facilities  for  the  con- 
struction of  a  new  road  to  Portland,  which  may  be- 
come of  importance  to  this  part  of  the  country. 

The  angular  and  precipitous  appearance  of  the  mica 
slate  rocks,  rising  hundreds  of  feet  almost  perpendicularly 
on  either  side,  is  strikingly  different  from  the  rounded  and 
water- worn  appearance  of  most  of  the  primitive  rocks 
throughout  the  northern  part  of  the  United  States,  and 
seems  to  come  nearer  to  the  scenery  of  the  Alps  than  any 


88  SECTION    FROM    CONCORD    TO    WAKEFIELD. 

thing  else  in  New  England.  Sketches  of  the  scenery 
were  preserved,  and  will  be  presented  with  the  final  Report. 
It  is  evident  that  so  interesting  a  spot  as  this  must,  when 
known,  draw  thither  a  portion,  at  least,  of  the  numerous 
visitants  to  the  picturesque  scenery  of  the  State. 

Although  it  rained  severely  when  we  arrived  at  Cole- 
brook,  which  we  regarded  as  the  continuation  of  the  storm 
by  which  we  had  been  so  long  followed,  we  were  surpri- 
sed to  learn  that  nearly  the  whole  of  the  month  had  been 
clear  and  pleasant  throughout  the  whole  of  this  part  of 
the  State. 

In  conclusion,  we  would  remark  that  the  geological  and 
topographical  information  which  we  obtained  will  appear 
on  the  map  to  be  appended  to  the  final  Report  of  the  State 
Geologist.  Specimens  of  the  principal  rocks  also  have 
been  deposited  in  the  State  Cabinet. 

Section  from  Concord  to  Wakefieldj  by  Messrs.  Whitney 
and   Williams. 

The  section  from  Concord  to  Wakefield  is  one  of  uni- 
form geological  character,  and  possesses  little  interest. 

Commencing  at  the  alluvion  of  the  river  Merrirnack, 
and  rising  by  a  sharp  ascent  to  the  level  of  the  sandy  dilu- 
vion,  which  extends  for  miles  on  each  side  of  the  river,  the 
underlaying  rock,  granite,  is  seen  only  once  in  place  dur- 
ing the  first  seven  miles.  About  1-2  mile  from  the  village 
of  Loudon,  granite  occurs  in  situ,  and  continues  to  the 
eastern  line  of  the  State.  Near  Loudon,  and  for  several 
miles  beyond,  it  is  crossed  by  occasional  beds  of  mica 
slate,  having  a  general  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  direction,  and 
dipping  to  the  S.  E. 

The  Granite  rocks  in  this 'vicinity  are  found,  when 
freshly  uncovered,  to  be  covered  with  the  marks  of  dillu- 
vial  agency,  and,  as  would  be  expected  in  a  section  of  the 


SECTION    FROM   WAKEFIELD  TO  HAVERHILL.  89 

country  where  such  immense  masses  of  diluvial  detritus 
are  collected,  they  are  often  deep  and  very  distinct.  Their 
direction  near  the  village  of  London,  varied  from  12°  to 
25°  west  of  north.  Near  the  academy  in  Gilmanton,  they 
run  N.  27°  W.  Gilmanton  is  covered  by  a  series  of  high 
diluvial  hills,  evidently  the  detritus  of  granite  rocks 
brought  from  the  northward. 

The  soil  in  many  parts  of  the  town  is  very  fertile,  and 
has  been  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  no 
part  of  the  State  presents  a  more  pleasing  and  picturesque 
appearance  to  the  eye  of  the  agriculturist.  The  simple 
minerals  and  ores  contained  in  the  granite  of  this  region 
are  few  in  number  and  destitute  of  interest.  Quartz  crys- 
tals of  considerable  size  are  said  to  be  found  near  Shell- 
camp  Pond.  A  considerable  quantity  of  bog  iron  ore  of 
good  quality  was  formerly  obtained  from  Lougee  Pond,  in 
the  S.  E.  corner  of  of  the  town  Gilmanton.  It  was  taken 
from  the  bed  of  the  lake  by  means  of  long  tongs,  and  car- 
ried to  the  iron  works  village  to  be  smelted.  The  quantity 
of  ore  was  evidently  inadequate  to  supply  a  furnace  for  any 
length  of  time. 

From  Gilmanton  through  the  remaining  part  of  this  sec- 
tional line,  the  rocks  are  uniformly  granite,  covered,  as 
usual,  with  huge  boulders  of  granite  and  mica  slate. 

Great  Moose  Mountain,  which  forms  the  dividing  line 
between  Brookfield  and  Middleton,  consists  entirely  of 
granite,  and  is  elevated  1404  feet  above  the  sea. 

Section  from  Wakefield  to  Haverhill,  and  examination  of 

the  country  adjacent  to  Lake   Winnipiseogee,  by 

Messrs.   Whitney  and   Williams. 

From  Wakefield  to  Moultonborough  the  underlying 
rock  is  granite,  covered  with  bowlders  of  granite  and 
masses  of  diluvial  granitic  sand.  Some  of  the  bowlders 

11* 


90  SECTION    FROM    WAKEFIELD  TO  HAVERHILL. 

are  of  enormous  size.  Near  the  house  of  Mr.  Ambrose, 
in  Ossipee,  is  a  collection  of  loose  masses  of  granite,  one 
of  which  measured  forty-three  feet  in  length,  seventeen 
feet  high,  and  twenty-one  feet  wide.  A  ledge  of  horn- 
blende rock  of  limited  extent  crosses  the  road  near  the 
village  of  Wakefield. 

In  Moultonborough,  the  character  of  the  rocks  begin  to 
change.  Red  Hill,  which  rises  about  2,000  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  sea,  is  composed  of  a  beautiful  sienite,  in 
which  the  felspar  is  of  an  ash-gray  color,  when  freshly  ex- 
posed. Near  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  where  the  ledg- 
es of  rock  are  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  air,  it  is  of  a 
reddish  hue.  The  mountain  is  crossed  at  about  one-third 
of  its  height  by  a  large  dyke  of  porphyritic  trap,  whose 
general  direction  is  about  N.  30°  W.  Being  covered  with 
soil,  it  is  impossible  to  trace  its  limits.  The  hornblende 
of  the  sienite  is  in  some  instances  well  crystallized,  so  as 
to  afford  very  good  cabinet  specimens.  Near  the  house  of 
Mr.  Cook,  about  half  way  from  the  base  to  the  summit, 
occurs  a  deposit  of  bog  iron  ore.  It  is  only  a  few  inches 
thick  and  of  limited  extent.  From  it  a  crow-bar  has  been 
manufactured.  Near  this  spot  small  quantities  of  iron  py- 
rites have  been  found,  also  black  tourmaline,  which  has 
been  mistaken  for  coal. 

This  mountain  is  covered  with  soil  and  is  wooded  nearly 
to  the  summit.  It  owes  its  name  to  the  circumstance  of 
the  leaves  Uva  Ursa  with  which  it  is  covered,  chang- 
ing to  a  brilliant  red  in  the  autumn. 

Great  numbers  of  visitors  ascend  this  mountain,  attrac- 
ted by  the  unrivalled  beauty  of  the  scenery  of  the  coun- 
try bordering  on  Lakes  Winnipissiogee  and  Squam.  On 
a  clear  day,  the  view  from  its  summit  is  of  great  extent. 
The  lofty  peaks  of  Kearsarge,  Sandwich,  Whiteface, 
Conway,  Pigwacket  and  Ossipee  mountains,  seem  to  en- 
close, in  an  amphitheatre,  the  lakes  with  their  numerous 


SECTION    FROM    WAKEFIELD    TO    HAVERHILL.  91 

picturesque  islands,  covered  with  the  dark  foliage  of  the 
spruce  and  pine,  forming  the  most  beautiful  mountain  view 
which  this  country  affords. 

The  shores  of  Lake  Winnipissiogee  are  covered  with 
angular  fragments  of  granite  and  granitic  sand.  .  A  beau- 
tiful amethyst  sand  is  found  abundantly  on  the  shores  of 
Long  Island.  The  number  of  islands  in  this  lake  is  very 
great,  and  several  of  them  have  become  quite  well  known 
for  the  large  crops  which  skilful  cultivation  has  produced 
upon  them.  These  will  be  noticed  in  the  agricultural  part 
of  the  Report.  Rattle  Snake  Island  is  elevated  from  400 
to  500  feet  above  the  lake,  and  presents  from  its  summit  a 
fine  view  of  the  surrounding  islands.  Their  geological 
character  is  quite  uniform,  being  composed  of  angular  frag- 
ments of  granite  piled  on  ledges  of  the  same  rock,  which 
are  often  cut  through  by  veins  of  injected  trap  and  granite. 

Ossipee  Mountain,  in  Ossipee,  about  3  or  4  miles  from  the 
eastern  shore  of  the  Lake,  is  composed  of  several  distinct 
peaks.  The  most  lofty,  which  is  elevated  2361  feet  above 
the  sea-level,  is  well  wooded,  and  covered  with  larch, 
spruce  and  birch  to  the  summit.  The  rock  is  gneiss,  cov- 
ered with  numerous  fragments  of  trap  brought  from  the 
most  northern  peak,  which  is  an  isolated  bare  precipitous 
range  of  bluish  greenstone  trap.  This  rock  has  been  mis- 
taken for  iron  ore  and  for  limestone,  neither  of  which  min- 
erals occur  there.  Near  the  foot  of  the  mountain  is  a 
beautiful  little  cascade,  which  attracts  numerous  visitors  to 
the  mountain ;  also,  a  spring  slightly  impregnated  with 
sulphydrie  acid  gas,  which  has  attained  some  celebrity 
among  the  inhabitants  as  a  remedy  for  cutaneous  dis- 
eases. 

The  greenstone  trap  peak  of  Ossipee  seems  to  be  con- 
nected with  a  series  of  dykes  of  greater  or  less  extent,  oc- 
curring in  numerous  places  in  the  adjacent  country.  A  series 
of  them  cross  the  road  from  Centre  Harbor  to  Tamworth, 


92  SECTION    FROM    WAKEFIELD    TO    ttAVERHILL, 

nearly  on  a  line  between  Ossipee  and  Red  Mountains. 
They  are  very  numerous,  and  measure  from  one  to  three 
or  four  feet  in  thickness.  Their  general  direction  is  N. 
60°  or  70°  W.  Trap  dykes  are  also  very  numerous  on 
the  margin  of  Squam  Lake,  varying  from  one  inch  to  ten 
feet  in  width,  running  nearly  E.  and  W.  About  six  miles 
N.  from  Centre  Harbor  occurs  a  dyke  cutting  through  gran- 
ite and  is  about  10  ft.  in  width.  It  is  porphyritic  with  flesh- 
colored  crystals  of  felspar.  These  dykes  are  very  distinct- 
ly marked  from  the  surface  of  the  granite  including  them. 
They  have  been  worn  and  polished  by  the  action  of  the  dilu- 
vial currents,  so  that  a  level  and  smooth  surface  compri- 
sing many  thousand  square  feet  lies  entirely  bare  of  soil. 

Gunstock  Mountain,  on  the  south-western  shore  of  this 
Lake,  is  made  up  of  three  distinct  peaks.  The  most  north- 
erly is  the  highest,  being  about  1969  feet  above  the  lake, 
and  2447  feet  above  the  sea.  The  westerly  peak,  accord- 
ing to  Dr.  Jackson's  observations,  is  1561  feet  above  the 
lake,  and  2039  ft.  above  the  sea.  On  its  declivity  occurs  a 
vein  of  magnetic  oxide  of  iron,  which  is  included  in  sienite 
rock,  and  is  irregular  in  its  dimensions,  varying  from  a  few 
inches  to  two  feet  in  width.  The  ore  is  remarkably  mag- 
netic, with  strong  polarity,  especially  near  the  surface,  the 
interior  not  being  so  strongly  polarized.  Large  quan- 
tities of  this  ore  are  now  lying  loose  upon  the  ground, 
and  will  furnith  an  abundance  of  cabinet  specimens  ;  there 
is  not  an  adequate  supply  for  a  furnace. 

The  most  southerly  peak  affords  a  magnificent  view  of 
Lake  Winnipissiogee  and  its  islands,  with  the  surrounding 
mountains.  Large  dykes  of  trap  occur  on  this  mountain. 
It  was  supposed  that  limestone  had  been  found  there,  but 
examination  has  not  confirmed  the  opinion. 

From  Meredith  to  Centre  Harbor,  the  rock  in  place  is 
porphyritic  granite,  often  traversed  by  beds  and  veins  of 
fine  grained,  dark  colored  granite  and  trap.  Some  speci- 


FROM    HAVERHILL    TO    THE    WHITE    MOUNTAINS.  93 

mens  of  the  porphyritic  granite,  in  which  the  crystals  of 
felspar  are  flesh  colored,  are  very  beautiful. 

Boulders  of  this  rock  are  scatterad  in  great  numbers  to 
the  South  of  their  native  bed.  They  have  been  carried 
from  eight  to  ten  miles  by  the  action  of  the  diluvial  cur- 
rents. From  Centre  Harbor  to  Plymouth,  the  rocks  in 
place  are  porphyritic  granite,  traversed  by  occasional  lim- 
ited beds  of  mica  slate.  In  Plymouth  mica  slate  occurs, 
and  continues  to  near  the  line  of  Wentworth,  where  the 
granite  replaces  it.  Near  Rumney  line,  at  the  base  of 
Carr's  Mountain,  the  mica  slate  runs  N.  35°  E.,  and  dips 
nearly  vertical.  This  rock  splits  very  smoothly,  and  might 
be  quarried  to  any  extent. 

Carr's  Mountain,  which  is  one  of  the  most  lofty  eleva- 
tions in  this  part  of  the  State,  being  about  3381  feet  above 
the  sea-level,  is  composed  of  granite  overlying  mica  slate. 
From  the  vertical  dip  of  this  rock  at  its  base,  it  would 
seem  highly  probable  that  the  granite  had  been  erupted 
through  it,  forming  a  cap  upon  its  summit. 


Examination  of  the  Country  from  Haver  hill  to  the  White 
Mountains. 

Having  completed  the  measurement  of  our  great  longi- 
tudinal section,  which  will  be  represented  hereafter  by  a 
colored  engraving,  we  made  a  rapid  reconnoisance  of  the 
country  from  Haverhill  to  the  White  Mountains,  by  the 
way  of  Lisbon  and  Franconia,  examining  particularly  the 
limestones  and  iron  ores  which  are  found  in  the  last  men- 
tioned towns.  From  Bath  to  Franconia  the  mica  slate 
rocks  predominate,  arid  in  Lisbon  these  rocks  contain  an 
infinity  of  beautifully  crystallized  staurotides  and  garnets, 
which  on  the  shores  of  Mink  Pond  have  been  detached 
from  the  rock  by  decomposition,  so  as  to  form  the  princi- 


94 


FRANCONIA. 


pal  pebbles  on  its  beach.  This  locality  will  prove  inter- 
esting to  mineralogists,  who  can  readily  obtain  as  many 
separate  crystals  of  staurotide  as  they  desire,  by  visiting 
the  shores  of  the  pond. 

The  limestones  of  Lisbon  are  contained  between  walls 
of  mica  slate,  and  quarries  have  long  been  wrought  in  sev- 
eral places  for  the  supply  of  lime.  The  principal  quarries 
are  owned  and  wrought  by  Owen  Bronson,  Thos.  Priest, 
David  Priest,  and  Uriah  Oakes.  The  bed  at  T.  Priest's 
quarry  runs  N.  69°  E.,  S.  69°  W.,  and  dips  to  the  N.  W. 
70°.  It  is  13  feet  wide,  and  has  been  opened  to  the  depth 
of  60  feet,  and  300  feet  in  length.  Bronson's  quarry  is  a 
part  of  the  same  bed,  and  is  situated  to  the  S.  W.  The 
limestone  is  crystalline,  and  of  a  greyish  white  color,  and 
is  said  to  make  good  lime.  (See  analysis.)  David  Priest's 
quarry  is  situated  a  mile  and  a  half  north-eastward  from 
this  locality. 

From  David  Priest's  quarry  we  took  the  bearings  of  the 
other  openings  where  limestone  had  been  obtained.  T. 
Priest's  quarry  bears  S.  71°  W.  Uriah  Oakes'  N.  81°  E. 
From  these  bearings  it  will  appear  that  there  must  be  sev- 
eral distinct  beds  of  limestone,  running  parallel  with  each 
other,  or  the  strata  may  curve  where  they  may  not  be 
observed  on  account  of  the  superficial  covering  of  soil. 

I  shall  give  the  statistical  information  obtained  at  these 
quarries  in  another  part  of  this  Report,  where  the  compo- 
sition of  the  limestone  will  also  be  stated. 

FRANCONIA.  This  town  owes  its  rise  and  prosperity  to 
the  discovery  and  working  of  a  rich  vein  of  granular  mag- 
netic iron  ore,  which  exists  within  the  present  limits  of 
the  town  of  Lisbon,  at  its  south-eastern  corner.  The  iron 
ore  is  a  vein  from  3  1-2  to  4  feet  wide,  included  in  granite 
rocks.  The  course  of  the  vein  is  N.  30°  E.,  S.  30°  W., 
and  its  dip  is  to  the  south-east  70  or  80°.  It  has  been  op- 


FRANCONIA.  95 

ened  and  wrought  40  rods  in  length,  and  144  feet  in  depth. 
The  ore  is  blasted  out  by  the  workmen,  and  are  employed 
by  a  contractor  who  supplies  the  Franconia  furnace.  The 
mine  is  wrought  open  to  daylight,  and  is  but  partially  cov- 
ered to  keep  out  the  rain. 

On  measuring  the  direction  of  this  vein  it  was  evident 
that  it  extended  into  the  valley  below,  and  on  searching 
on  the  hill-side  in  that  direction  it  was  readily  discovered. 

It  is  probable  that  openings  will  be  made  there,  and  a 
gallery  will  then  be  cut  into  the  hill.  Formerly  much  ex- 
pense was  incurred  by  unskilful  searching  for  additional 
veins  of  iron  ore,  many  old  drifts  being  shewn  us  by  the 
present  skilful  director,  Captain  Putnam,  where  a  vast  deal 
of  labor  and  expense  had  been  wasted  in  fruitless  search. 
In  one  place  there  was  a  gallery  120  feet  long  cut  in  the 
solid  granite,  without  any  indications  of  a  vein  of  iron  ore. 
Near  this  another  vein  was  cut  in  a  northerly  direction, 
for  the  distance  of  71  feet,  also  without  discovering  any 
ore. 

There  are  some  very  curious  irregularities  in  the  courses 
of  the  iron  ore  veins,  which  probably  embarrassed  the  first 
miners  who  worked  at  this  place.  One  of  the  veins  on 
the  hill  forms  a  large  curve,  and  is  nipped  out  at  one  ex- 
tremity. When  first  opened  it  was  6  feet  wide,  but  it  rap- 
idly diminished  in  power  to  1  1-2  feet  wide  as  it  entered 
the  rock.  Many  curious  and  remarkable  caverns  have  been 
formed  in  the  rocky  sides  of  the  hill  by  these  mining  ex- 
cavations. 

Numerous  interesting  minerals  have  also  been  brought 
to  light,  and  may  be  found  among  the  rejected  masses 
which  have  been  blasted  out.  The  most  abundant  and 
interesting  minerals  are  a  brilliant  deep  brownish  red  man- 
ganesian  garnet,  crystallized  and  granular  epidote,  pris- 
matic and  bladed  crystals  of  hornblende,  rhombic  dodeca- 


96  FRANCONIA. 

hedral  crystals  of  magnetic  iron  ore,  with  striae  indicating 
their  origin  from  the  octahedral  primary  form* 

These  minerals  have  long  since  been  familiar  to  most  of 
the  mineralogists  of  the  country,  since  they  have  been  ex- 
tensively distributed  by  exchanges.  Every  season  many 
mineralogists  journey  to  Franconia  for  the  purpose  of  col- 
lecting specimens  which  are  abundantly  obtained  at  the 
mines. 

Having  measured  the  extent  of  the  iron  vein  so  far  as 
it  is  opened,  and  procured  a  good  collection  of  specimens 
for  analysis  and  for  the  State  Cabinet,  we  returned  to  the 
village  of  Franconia,  examined  the  furnaces,  and  collected 
some  valuable  statistical  matter,  furnished  through  the  po- 
liteness of  the  agent. 

(See  another  part  of  this  Report  for  chemical  analysis 
of  the  ore,  and  for  statistical  information  respecting  the 
iron  works. ) 

On  the  estate  of  Mr.  Horace  Brooks  occur  several  veins 
of  copper  pyrites,  included  in  mica  slate  rocks,  and  associ- 
ated with  veins  of  quartz.  These  veins  were  examined, 
and  were  found  too  narrow  for  profitable  mining,  their 
width  being  rarely  more  than  6  or  8  inches,  while  the 
gangue  or  vein-stone  is  exceedingly  hard.  Fine  cabinet 
specimens,  nevertheless,  may  be  obtained  without  much 
trouble. 

A  new  and  interesting  mineral  occurs,  associated  with 
the  quartz  containing  the  copper  ores.  It  is  a  crystallized 
ore,  consisting  of  iron,  cobalt,  arsenicj  and  sulphur.  This 
mineral  has  been  analyzed  by  Mr.  A.  A.  Hayes,  who  as- 
certained that  it  was  a  new  species,  and  named  it  in  honor 
of  his  teacher,  the  late  Professor  Dana  of  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege. In  the  chemical  department  of  this  Report  this  min- 
eral will  be  described. 

The  scenery  of  the  Franconia  Notch,  and  the  view  from 


FRANCONIA.  97 

the  summit  of  Mount  La  Fayette,  have  justly  been  admir- 
ed by  travellers. 

Although  less  imposing  than  the  wild  magnificence  of 
the  White  Mountain  Notch,  it  still  may  present  attractions 
of  another  character  which  will  prove  equally  interesting 
to  the  curious.  The  Basin,  Flume,  and  the  profile  moun- 
tain are  the  usual  scenes  admired  by  travellers  who  visit 
this  place. 

The  Basin  is  a  deep  excavation  in  granite,  which  has 
been  formed  by  the  continual  action  of  the  falling  waters 
of  the  Pemmasawasset,  aided  by  the  whirling  and  grind- 
ing action  of  boulders  of  rocks  swept  into  the  cavity  by 
the  stream.  The  diameter  of  this  rocky  basin  is  about  30 
by  40  feet,  and  its  depth  appears  to  be  in  such  proportion 
as  to  form  a  deep  bowl,  which  is  always  filled  to  the  brim 
with  the  most  pellucid  and  cold  water.  On  one  side  the 
rocks  jut  over  the  brim  of  the  basin,  forming  a  pretty  grotto 
beneath,  while  the  embankment,  covered  with  green  moss 
and  wood-flowers,  presents  a  pleasant  contrast  to  the  foam- 
ing cascade  which  rushes  down  the  broken  surface  of  the 
rocks. 

The  Flume  is  situate  3-4  of  a  mile  from  the  main  road, 
on  the  left  hand  as  you  go  from  Franconia.  A  narrow  path 
through  the  woods  conducts  the  traveller  to  the  spot.  On 
the  way  he  must,  however,  cross  over  several  small 
streams  on  fallen  trees,  which  there  are  the  only  bridges, 
and  will  walk  in  a  shallow  sheet  of  water,  which  rushes 
swiftly  down  a  smooth  inclined  plane  of  granite.  It  is, 
therefore,  advisable  always  to  proceed  on  foot. 

The  Flume  is  a  deep  chasm,  having  mural  precipices  of 
granite  on  each  side,  while  a  mountain  torrent  rushes 
through  its  midst,  falling  over  precipitous  crags  and  loose 
masses  of  rock.  During  the  freshets  of  the  spring  season 
and  in  early  summer,  it  is  not  practicable  to  walk  in  the 
bed  of  the  flume,  but  in  the  driest  season  of  the  year  there 


98  FRANCONIA. 

is  but  little  water  in  it,  and  the  bottom  of  the  ravine  af- 
fords a  good  foot-path. 

The  direction  of  this  rocky  fissure  is  N.  80°  E.,  and  it 
appears  to  have  resulted,  not  from  the  abrasion  of  the  rocks 
by  the  action  of  running  water,  but  to  have  been  produced 
originally  by  a  fracture  of  the  uplifted  rocks. 

The  walls  of  the  chasm  on  either  hand  exhibit  proofs 
in  favor  of  this  opinion,  for  they  are  not  water-worn,  but 
present  surfaces  of  fracture,  and  the  projecting  ledges  on 
each  side  are  still  comparatively  sharp  and  well  defined  in 
their  outlines. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  objects  in  the  Flume  is  an 
immense  rounded  block  of  granite,  which  hangs  over  head, 
supported  merely  by  small  surfaces  of  contact  against  its 
sides.  It  appears  to  the  traveller  looking  at  it  from  below 
as  if  ready  to  fall  upon  him. 

The  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree  crosses  the  top  of  the  ravine, 
and  affords  a  natural  bridge  to  adventurous  persons  who 
rejoice  in  the  feat  of  crossing  so  narrow  a  foot-path  sus- 
pended high  in  air.  No  one  unaccustomed  to  feats  of  the 
kind  should  attempt  so  unnecessary  and  dangerous  a  pass. 

I  have  been  told  by  persons  who  have  seen  the  Flume 
when  nearly  free  from  water,  that  near  its  upper  part  a 
dyke  of  trap-rock  may  be  seen.  A  few  fragments  or  smooth 
boulders  of  that  rock  were  observed  in  its  channel,  but,  al- 
though my  assistants  waded  throughout  its  entire  extent, 
they  saw  no  dyke.  If  small,  it  may  have  been  covered  by 
deep  running  water. 

The  most  remarkable  object  seen  from  the  Notch  is  the 
Profile  called  the  Old  Man  of  the  Mountain.  This  may 
be  seen  at  a  point  indicated  by  a  guide-board  on  the  road. 
As  the  traveller  reaches  this  point,  he  is  directed  by  the 
guide-board  to  look  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  way,  where 
he  discovers  a  stern  visage  of  gigantic  proportions  on  the 
brow  of  a  rocky  mountain,  looking  boldly  upward. 


I'RANCONIA.  99 

This  remarkable  object  was  first  discovered  about  40 
years  ago,  when  laying  out  the  road.  Had  it  been  known 
to  the  Aborigines,  I  doubt  not  it  would  have  been  an  ob- 
ject of  superstitious  worship. 

Mount  La  Fayette  is  a  lofty  conical  mountain  of  gran- 
ite, situated  to  the  south-eastward  of  the  village  of  Fran- 
conia.  Although  not  so  elevated  as  Mount  Washington, 
it  presents  an  equally  interesting  view  from  its  summit,  and 
is  frequently  ascended  by  travellers. 

In  order  to  measure  its  altitude  and  its  latitude,  and 
place  on  the  map,  we  ascended  to  its  summit,  carrying  with 
us  a  sextant,  artificial  horizon,  barometer,  and  Messiat  com- 
pass, and  made  a  series  of  observations  to  effect  our  ob- 
ject. 

A  rude  foot-path  has  been  cleared  for  part  of  the  way 
up  the  side  of  the  mountain,  but  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance we  had  to  scramble  over  fallen  trees  and  rocks. 
Emerging  from  a  forest  of  small  spruce  trees,  we  next  came 
to  ledges  and  detached  rocks  of  granite,  the  loose  blocks 
of  which  are  generally  angular,  and  do  not  appear  to  have 
been  worn  by  the  action  of  water.  They  are  similar  to  the 
rock  composing  the  ledges  of  the  mountain,  and  therefore 
cannot  be  considered  as  of  diluvial  deposition. 

The  vegetation  near  the  top  of  the  mountain  is  similar 
to  that  upon  Mount  Washington — the  mountain  cranberry, 
vaccinium  oxicoccus  and  saxifragas.  Blue-berries  and  hare- 
bells abound  amid  the  crannies  of  the  rocks,  but  no  forest 
trees  grow  near  the  summit.  From  the  highest  peak  of 
this  mountain  Mount  Washington  bears  N.  80°  E.,  Fran- 
conia  Village  N.  35°  W.,  Moosehillock  S.  54°  E.  The 
ranges  of  mountains  seen  to  the  east  appear  to  be  parallel 
ranges  running. north  and  south. 

By  a  comparison  of  barometrical  observations,  made  at 
Franconia,  Portsmouth,  and  upon  the  summit  of  Mount 
La  Fayette,  we  were  enabled  to  ascertain  by  calculation 


100  WHITE    MOUNTAINS. 

the  height  of  the  mountain  above  the  level  of  the  sea, 
which  was  found  to  be  5067  feet. 

By  a  meridional  observation  of  the  sun,  its  latitude  is 
44°  8'  59"  4. 

No  minerals  of  any  importance  were  found  in  the  gran- 
ite rocks  composing  the  mass  of  this  mountain,  but  a  very 
good  view  of  the  contour  of  the  surrounding  country  may 
be  obtained,  and  the  lovers  of  the  picturesque  will  always 
find  enough  to  repay  them  for  the  labor  of  ascending  to 
its  summit. 

From  Franconia  we  passed  through  Bethlehem  to  the 
Notch  of  the  White  Mountains,  observing  no  rocks  ex- 
cepting granite  and  gneiss,  the  surfaces  of  which  were  oc- 
casionally marked  by  diluvial  strise.  Each  hill  on  our  way 
was  measured  barometrically,  so  that  we  shall  be  enabled 
to  draw  a  sectional  profile  of  the  route.  At  Mr.  T.  J. 
Crawford's  we  made  all  the  requisite  preparations  for  meas- 
uring the  altitudes  and  latitudes  of  Mount  Washington  and 
the  adjacent  mountains,  which  we  proposed  to  examine. 

By  meridional  observation  of  the  sun  at  T.  J.  Crawford's, 
the  latitude  of  that  place  is  N.  44°  12'  53",  and  its  eleva- 
tion above  the  sea-level  is  1829  feet. 

A  horse-path  had  just  been  completed  to  the  summit  of 
the  mountain,  and  we  were  enabled  easily  to  make  our  as- 
cent, carrying  in  safety  all  the  instruments  for  the  obser- 
vations which  we  proposed  to  make. 

Mr.  Abel  Crawford,  the  veteran  guide  of  the  mountain, 
accompanied  us,  and  leading  our  party  was  the  first  man 
who  ever  rode  to  the  summit  of  Mount  Washington. 

Before  leaving  the  Notch  House,  barometrical  observa- 
tions were  taken,  and  on  our  ascent  they  were  repeated 
with  two  instruments  upon  every  eminence  over  which  we 
passed.  Since  it  was  intended  to  leave  two  of  my  assis- 
tants to  make  observations  upon  the  summit  of  the  moun- 


WHITE    MOUNTAINS.       ,,,„,.,,.,     ,         101 

5  **  ;    ,  ; ,'  p  ^ ,  '  \*t 

tain,  while  the  remainder  of  our  party  returned  with  one 
of  the  instruments,  we  provided  ourselves  with  camp  equip- 
age, and  Messrs.  Williams  and  Baker  volunteered  to  remain 
there  through  the  night,  for  the  purpose  of  observing  the 
barometer  at  the  summit,  while  we  took  simultaneous  ob- 
servations below.  Being  duly  provided  with  sextant,  ar- 
tificial horizon,  barometers,  thermometers,  and  our  usual 
geological  instruments,  we  set  out  from  Mr.  Crawford's  at 
7A.M. 

Entering  a  narrow  foot-path  leading  through  the  forest, 
we  rode  to  the  summit  of  Mount  Clinton,  a  bald  mountain 
having  no  other  forest  trees  upon  it  save  a  few  stunted  and 
dead  spruces,  which  were  killed  by  fire.  At  this  place  ba- 
rometrical observations  were  taken,  and  the  spot  was  mark- 
ed for  repetition  of  the  observations  on  our  descent.  From 
this  place  we  proceeded  to  Mount  Pleasant,  where  similar 
observations  were  taken  ;  theawe  passed  to  Mount  Frank- 
lin, where  the  same  operations  were  performed. 

On  Mount  Franklin  all  traces  of  vegetation,  excepting 
plants  of  an  Alpine  character,  disappear. 

The  rocks  consist  entirely  of  granite  and  gneiss,  with 
occasional  veins  of  quartz. 

Several  small  ponds  and  springs  occur  near  this  spot, 
and  travellers  generally  stop  a  while  there  to  refresh  them- 
selves before  ascending  to  the  summit  of  Mount  Washing- 
ton, which  is  in  full  view,  and  presents  its  rough  and  rocky 
escarpments.  At  11  3-4,  A.  M.,  we  reached  the  summit 
of  Mount  Washington  on  horseback,  a  feat  quite  novel, 
this  being  the  first  time  that  it  has  been  effected. 

Travellers  should  thank  the  Crawford  family  for  having 
made  this  ascent  so  easy  and  agreeable,  for  now  any  per- 
son who  knows  how  to  ride  may  safely  travel  on  horse- 
back over  their  path  to  the  very  highest  point  in  New 
England. 


102  WHITE    MOUNTAINS. 

I  doubt  not  that  this  circumstance  will  induce  a  greater 
number  of  persons  to  ascend  the  mountain. 

Having  reached  the  summit  of  Mt.  Washington,  we  allow- 
our  horses  to  pick  the  dry,  harsh,  but  sweet  grasses  which 
grow  in  the  crevices  of  the  rocks,  and  proceeded  to  make 
ready  for  our  observations.  By  means  of  a  mercurial  ho- 
rizon, and  one  of  Gambey's  sextants,  I  measured  the  lati- 
tude of  the  mountain  by  a  meridional  altitude  of  the  sun, 
correcting  by  barometrical  and  thermometrical  observa- 
tions for  the  refraction,  and  using  the  most  minute  pre- 
cautions for  accuracy. 

By  the  observation  we  have  calculated  the  latitude  of 
the  summit  of  Mount  Washington  to  be  N.  44°  16'  34" 
48.  By  means  of  a  series  of  barometrical  and  thermom- 
etrical observations,  made  for  a  period  of  twelve  hours  at 
a  time,  when  the  weather  was  remarkably  favorable,  and 
the  atmospheric  pressure  was  stationary  throughout  the 
State,  as  shown  by  other  observations  made  at  the  same 
time,  we  have  ascertained  the  height  of  Mount  Washing- 
ton to  be  6226  feet  above  the  high  water  mark  in  Ports- 
mouth harbor.  Calculated  by  a  series  of  observations,  the 
height  is  6228  feet,  making  but  2  feet  difference  in  the  el- 
evation, and  on  single  observations  the  difference  is  but  6 
feet.  We  may  therefore  feel  satisfied  with  the  correctness 
of  our  result. 

The  Geological  features  of  Mount  Washington  possess 
but  little  interest,  the  rocks  in  place  consisting  of  a  coarse 
variety  of  mica  slate,  passing  into  gneiss,  which  contains 
a  few  crystals  of  black  tourmaline  and  quartz.  The  cone 
of  the  mountain  and  its  summit  are  covered  with  myriads 
of  angular  and  flat  blocks  and  slabs  of  mica  slate,  piled  in 
confusion  one  upon  the  other.  They  are  identical  in  na- 
ture with  the  rocks  in  place,  and  bear  no  marks  of  trans- 
portation or  abrasion  by  the  action  of  water. 

On  the  declivity  of  the  cone  occurs  a  vein  of  milky  and 


WHITE    MOUNTAINS.  103 

rose  colored  quartz,  but  it  is  not  sufficiently  colored  to 
form  elegant  specimens. 

The  Geologist  will  be  fully  rewarded  for  his  toil  in  as- 
cending this  mountain,  by  the  magnificent  and  compre- 
hensive view  which  may  be  obtained  of  the  surrounding 
country.  He  will  remark  that  the  mountains  are  not 
grouped  at  random,  but  form  regular  ranges,  running  in 
definite  directions  coinciding  with  the  axis  of  elevation  of 
each  range. 

To  the  south-eastward  three  ranges  of  mountains  are  seen 
and  appear  to  run  N.  N.  E.,  while  to  the  south-west  the 
mountains  run  in  a  nearly  North  and  South  direction. 
The  valleys  are  observed  to  be  regularly  continuous  be- 
tween the  mountains.  The  whole  country,  so  far  as  the 
eye  can  reach,  is  thickly  clad  with  the  primeval  forest 
trees. 

Having  completed  such  observations  as  were  deemed 
essential  to  our  purpose,  Mr.  Whitney  and  myself  descen- 
ded with  one  of  the  barometers,  taking  observations  at 
each  spot  where  we  had  observed  in  the  morning,  Messrs. 
Williams  and  Baker  remaining,  meanwhile,  on  the  sum- 
mit of  the  mountain,  engaged  in  making  hourly  similar 
observations  on  the  instrument  suspended  at  that  spot. 
They  were  directed  to  camp  near  the  summit  of  the  moun- 
tain, and  to  commence  their  observations  during  the  next 
day,  while  we  were  engaged  in  making  observations  be- 
low at  the  Notch  House. 

By  taking  a  mean  of  a  given  number  of  barometrical 
and  thermometrical  observations,  and  calculating  them  as 
two  sets,  we  are  enabled  to  make  a  more  accurate  meas- 
urement than  had  before  been  effected  ;  and  by  calculating 
the  height  of  each  separate  station,  and  comparing  the  re- 
sult with  those  obtained  by  the  above-mentioned  method, 
we  are  enabled  to  prove  the  correctness  of  the  work. 

The  height  of  the  Notch  House  above  the  sea-level  was 


104  WHITE    MOUNTAINS. 

obtained  in  a  similar  manner,  by  comparing  the  observa- 
tions made  at  Portsmouth  with  those  made  at  T.  J.  Craw- 
ford's. 

From  the  lofty  peaks  of  the  White  Mountains  we  pro- 
ceeded to  explore  the  ranges  of  a  lower  level,  which  form 
their  outskirts  or  spurs.  In  the  towns  of  Bartlett  and  Jack- 
son occur  several  valuable  ores,  which  I  had  partly  explored 
on  a  former  occasion. 

The  most  important  of  these  minerals  is  the  iron  ore 
which  exists  in  inexhaustible  quantities  on  Baldface  Moun- 
tain, between  the  rocky  branch  of  the  Saco  and  Ellis  ri- 
vers in  Bartlett,  near  the  South  line  of  the  town  of  Jack- 
son. 

Baldface  Mountain  is  composed  of  granite,  having  a  few 
dykes  of  greenstone  trap  cutting  through  its  midst. 
The  elevation  at  which  the  iron  ore  occurs  is  1404  feet 
above  the  Rocky  branch  of  the  Saco,  and  about  one  mile 
distant.  The  slope  of  the  mountain  to  the  river  is  from 
17°  to  20°. 

Since  my  first  visit,  which  was  made  four  years  ago, 
some  new  openings  have  been  made,  for  the  purpose  of 
discovering  the  boundaries  of  the  veins  of  iron  ore,  and 
I  had  therefore  a  better  opportunity  of  estimating  the  val- 
ue of  the  ore. 

One  of  the  veins  at  the  upper  opening  measures  37  feet 
in  width  in  an  East  and  West,  and  16  feet  in  a  North  and 
South  direction. 

The  second  opening,  200  feet  lower  down  the  slope  of 
the  hill,  exposes  the  ore  maintaining  the  same  width. 
ThiT.e  hundred  feet  lower  down,  the  vein  is  observed  to 
narrow,  and  is  but  10  feet  wide,  and  400  feet  further  down 
the  width  increases  to  55  feet. 

546  feet  lower  still  there  is  a.  small  opening  or  cave  20 
feet  deep,  where  the  ore  narrows  again. 

On  searching  to  the  westward  of  this  great  vein,  at  the 


IRON    MINE    IN    BARTLETT.  105 

distance  of  250  feet  we  soon  discovered  a  new  one,  which 
appears  to  be  of  large  dimensions,  but  we  were  unable  to 
uncover  it  sufficiently  to  determine  its  width. 

49  feet  farther  westward  the  soil  is  full  of  angular  frag- 
ments of  the  ore,  indicating  another  vein. 

It  is  evident  that  this  mountain  is  intersected  by  a  great 
number  of  veins  of  excellent  iron  ore,  and  will  furnish  an 
inexhaustible  supply  for  a  furnace. 

It  is  difficult,  in  the  present  condition  of  the  mines,  to^ 
ascertain  the  precise  direction  of  the  veins,  since   their 
walls  are  not  exposed  for  a  sufficient  distance  to  furnish 
the  requisite  data ;  but  the  general  course  of  the  openings 
indicates  the  direction  to  be  nearly  N.  37°  E.,  S.  37°  W. 

In  the  chemical  department  of  this  report  will  be  stated 
the  exact  chemical  composition  of  this  ore,  It  may  be 
proper  here  to  remark  that  it  is  composed  chiefly  of  the 
per-oxide  of  iron,  combined  with  a  small  proportion  of  the 
prot-oxide,  and  it  contains  a  little  oxide  of  manganese. 

From  the  composition  of  the  ore,  we  know  that  it  will 
make  excellent  iron,  and  the  best  kind  of  steel.  The  pres- 
ence of  a  small  proportion  of  manganese  favors  the  forma- 
tion of  a  steel  of  very  fine  grain,  suitable  for  cutlery.  (See 
Berzelius  traite  de  Per.) 

The  mines  are  situate  30  miles  from  the  town  of  Bridge- 
ton,  in  Maine,  where  the  canal  affords  a  means  of  cheap 
transportation  of  the  iron  to  Portland.  A  good  road,  reg- 
ularly descending,  leads  to  Bridgeton,  and  it  is  said  to  be 
practicable  to  shorten  the  distance  about  eight  miles,  by  a 
slight  change  in  its  course.  The  country  around  the  iron 
mines  is  thickly  clad  with  hard  wood,  suitable  for  the 
manufacture  of  charcoal j  which  can  be  furnished  at  a  very 
reasonable  cost.  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  these 
mines  will  soon  be  wrought,  both  for  domestic  use  and  for 
the  supply  of  the  Atlantic  cities.  It  should  be  remem- 
bered that,  although  iron  made  with  charcoal  costs  more 

13 


106  JACKSON. 

than  the  English  iron,  which  is  made  with  coke  or  bitu- 
minous coal,  that  it  is  vastly  better  for  machinery,  where 
a  soft  and  pure  iron  is  wanted. 

A  small  quantity  of  bog  iron  ore  has  also  been  discov- 
ered in  the  town  of  Jackson,  5  miles  North  from  Chesley's 
Tavern,  in  the  midst  of  the  forest. 

I  examined  the  place,  and  found  the  quantity  of  iron 
ore  too  small  to  warrant  the  expense  of  digging  it  out  of 
the  bog.  The  peat  which  composes  the  principal  part  of 
the  swamp  is  vastly  more  valuable  for  agricultural  use. 

Near  the  house  of  Captain  J.  Trickey  occur  several 
dykes  of  greenstone  trap,  which  are  so  highly  charged  with 
carbonate  of  lime  as  to  effervesce  strongly  with  acids.  On 
chemical  examination,  the  rock  was  found  too  poor  for 
burning  into  lime,  but  it  will  answer  a  useful  purpose  as  a 
flux  for  the  iron  ore.  Crystals  of  quartz  forming  hand- 
some druses  are  found  in  the  granite  at  the  same  place. 
Iron  pyrites  also  occurs  in  disseminated  crystals. 

The  trap  dykes  are  very  remarkable,  and  are  worthy  of 
a  visit.  They  cut  through  strata  of  mica  slate,  gneiss,  and 
a  granite  vein. 

One  of  the  dykes  measures  50  feet  in  width,  and  exhi- 
bits at  its  junction  those  curious  metamorphoses  which  are 
observed  at  their  points  of  contact  with  other  rocks. 

One  of  the  dykes,  as  before  mentioned,  contains  carbon- 
ate of  lime  in  combination  with  the  rock,  and  in  the  form 
of  incrustations  and  in  slender  veins.  In  some  places  the 
limestone  appears  to  have  been  converted  into  a  compact 
chert,  particularly  at  the  junction  of  the  rock  with  the  mi- 
ca slate  walls.  Where  the  pyritiferous  mica  slate  decom- 
poses, the  surface  is  covered  with  a  bright  yellow  powder, 
which  is  the  per-oxide  and  sub-sulphate  of  iron,  mixed 
with  the  fine  particles  of  decomposed  rock. 

On  a  former  occasion  I  had  ascertained  the  existence  of 
arsenical  pyrites  in  the  town  of  Jackson,  and  during  the 


JACKSON.  107 

present  visit  it  was  thought  proper  to  examine  the  vein  in 
order  to  ascertain  its  extent  and  value.  Having  other  lo- 
calities to  visit,  I  engaged  Mr.  Eastman  to  have  a  quantity 
of  the  ore  blasted  out,  and  when  this  was  done  I  visited 
the  locality  and  examined  it  minutely.  While  searching 
for  crystals  of  arsenical  cobalt,  I  discovered  a  small  vein  of 
copper  pyrites  and  crystals  of  oxide  of  tin.  The  mass  of 
rock  from  which  the  tin  was  obtained  appeared  to  have 
formed  a  part  of  the  rock  including  the  arsenical  pyrites, 
for  it  was  traversed  by  the  arsenical  vein.  The  mass  of 
tin  ore  was  sharp  angular,  and  had  been  freshly  broken 
from  the  rock.  Besides  the  crystallized  tin  ore  I  also  found 
the  compact  and  the  granular  varieties  intermixed  in  the 
mass. 

The  crystals  of  oxide  of  tin  are  thickly  implanted  and 
mixed  with  the  matrix,  so  that  the  ore  would  prove  work- 
able if  a  sufficiency  could  be  obtained  to  supply  a  furnace. 
The  oxide  of  tin  had  a  deep  hair-brown  color,  and  was 
regularly  crystallized  in  the  secondary  or  prismatic  forms, 
with  terminal  planes  like  those  from  Cornwall.  Some  of 
the  crystals  have  re-entering  and  salient  angles,  or  are  he- 
mitropic.  A  figure  will  be  given  in  this  Report,  represen- 
ting the  measured  angles  and  form  of  the  mineral. 

From  the  external  characters  I  had  no  doubt  that  the 
ore  was  one  of  tin,  and  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day  1 
proved  it  by  reducing  the  tin  to  its  metallic  state,  and  then 
converted  it  by  means  of  nitric  acid  into  the  insoluble 
white  oxide  of  tin,  known  to  chemists  under  the  name  of 
stannic  acid.  Since  that  time  I  have  reduced  a  quantity 
of  the  ore  to  its  metallic  state,  and  have  deposited  a  piece 
of  it  in  the  State  Cabinet  at  Concord. 

This  discovery  is  regarded  as  one  of  no  small  import- 
ance, for  although  a  few  minute  grains  of  oxide  of  tin  are 
said  to  have  been  previously  found  in  New  England,  this 
may  be  considered  as  the  first  rich  tin  ore  that  has  been 


108  JACKSON. 

discovered  in  the  United  States.  By  washing  the  ore  in  a 
manner  similar  to  that  used  in  large  works,  a  portion  of 
the  rock  is  removed,  and  the  ore  then  yields  on  the  aver- 
age 30  per  cent,  of  pure  tin,  and  when  more  thoroughly 
cleansed  it  gave  50  per  cent.  I  hope  that  an  effort  will  be 
made  to  search  out  other  veins,  and  in  order  to  aid 
such  a  discovery,  I  shall,  in  the  chemical  part  of  this 
Report,  give  a  detailed  account  of  the  characters  and  prop- 
erties of  oxide  of  tin.  It  is  highly  probable,  since  oxide 
of  tin  has  not  the  slightest  metallic  appearance,  but  ap- 
pears like  a  brownish  colored  stone,  that  it  has  been  over- 
looked by  people  who  are  not  familiar  with  minerals. 

If,  indeed,  large  masses  were  found,  the  weight  of  the 
ore  might  lead  some  persons  to  suspect  that  it  contained  a 
metal ;  but  this  is  very  rarely  the  case,  since  the  ore  is  ei- 
ther found  in  scattered  crystals  or  in  small  rounded  peb- 
bles, which  latter  are  known  in  commerce  under  the  names 
of  stream  and  wood  tin.  The  crystals  found  on  Mr.  East- 
man's land  are  rarely  more  than  1-4  of  an  inch  in  length, 
and  one-sixth  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  but  the  fine  granular 
tin  ore  abounds  in  the  same  mass. 

I  should  advise  the  people  who  are  interested  in  the 
mine  to  blast  out  the  arsenic  ore,  which  will  sell  for  $40 
per  ton  if  well  selected.  This  will  repay  the  expense  of 
mining,  and  by  opening  the  arsenic  vein  it  is  probable  that 
more  tin  ore  will  be  found,  since  it  occurs  beside  that  ore, 
forming  one  of  the  walls  of  the  vein.  The  arsenical  py- 
rites is  used  for  making  arseniate  of  potash,  which  is  em- 
ployed in  the  manufacture  of  Scheeles  green,  and  in  calico 
printing.  The  ore  above  noticed  yields  on  distillation  from 
30  to  40  per  cent,  of  pure  metallic  arsenic.  It  contains 
about  60  per  cent.,  but  a  portion  of  the  arsenic  remains 
combined  with  the  iron,  so  that  it  is  not  all  obtained.  By 
deflagration  with  nitre,  a  much  larger  proportion  of  the  ar- 
senic may  be  extracted  in  the  form  of  arseniate  of  potash, 


PIGWACKET    MOUNTAIN.  109 

Investing  the  ore  and  in  its  cavities  there  frequently  oc- 
curs a  lemon-yellow  powder,  which  is  the  sulphuret  of  ar- 
senic or  orpiment.  It  is  a  substance  used  in  painting,  but 
is  poisonous,  and  care  should  be  taken  not  to  make  the 
walls  of  a  well  or  spring  with  rocks  containing  this  ore,  for 
the  water  would  dissolve  the  sulphuret  of  arsenic,  and  be- 
come poisonous. 

Arsenical  pyrites  is  said  to  be  a  rare  mineral  in  Europe, 
but  in  this  country  it  is  very  abundant,  especially  in  the 
States  of  Maine,  New-Hampshire,  and  Massachusetts.  It 
may  in  several  places  be  economically  wrought  for  the 
manufacture  of  arseniate  of  potash,  and  for  metallic  arsenic, 
which  is  required  for  making  lead  granulate  in  shot  manufac- 
tories. The  market  is  at  present  supplied  by  the  furnaces  of 
Germany;  where  the  arsenical  ores  are  roasted,  and  the  arse- 
nic is  sublimed  in  the  state  of  white  oxide  or  arsenious  acid. 

Metallic  arsenic  is  also  used  in  making  speculum  metal 
for  astronomical  telescopes,  but  the  demand  for  the  pure 
metal  for  that  purpose  is  quite  limited.  Recently  the  in- 
troduction of  arsenical  compounds  in  calico  printing  works 
has  caused  a  great  increase  in  the  demand  for  its  salts  and 
oxide. 

While  engaged  in  exploring  the  Geological  resources  of 
Jackson,  many  citizens  of  that  town  freely  tendered  their 
services,  and  aided  us  in  the  labor.  Our  thanks  are  due  to 
them  for  their  spirited  exertions  in  behalf  of  the  survey. 

When  we  had  examined  the  rocks  and  the  most  impor- 
tant minerals  in  that  town,  we  proceeded  to  Bartlett  and 
ascended  the  Kearsarge  or  Pigwacket  Mountain,  where  it 
was  stated  that  some  expectations  had  been  entertained 
of  finding  coal  and  roofing  slate.  The  result  of  our  ex- 
amination proved  that  the  rocks  on  this  mountain  do  not 
belong  to  the  coal  formation,  and  that  no  good  roofing  slate 
can  be  obtained  there. 

On  ascending  the  mountain  on  its  south-eastern  side, 


*  110  PIGWACKET    MOUNTAIN. 

we  came  first  to  a  coarse  variety  of  granite,  consisting  of 
felspar  and  quartz,  without  any  mica,  which  is  overlaid  by 
a  breccia  of  granite  and  argillaceous  slate,  above  which  rest 
the  regular  strata  of  argillaceous  slate,  which  run  N.  75° 
E.,  S.  75°  W.,  and  dip  to  the  N.  N.  W.  30°,  or  the  strata 
dip  towards  the  mountain. 

This  slate  is  compact,  and  is  much  broken  and  twisted, 
so  that  it  would  not  answer  for  covering  roofs.  Occasion- 
ally a  few  good  slabs  may  be  obtained,  which  might  an- 
swer for  tomb-stones  or  for  platforms,  but  no  attempt  has 
yet  been  made  to  quarry  them. 

Higher  up  the  mountain  we  discover  a  very  singular 
breccia,  made  up  of  the  large  broken  fragments  of  the  ar- 
gillaceous slate  rocks,  mixed  confusedly  with  the  granite 
which  closely  invests  them.  This  breccia  was  evidently 
formed  by  the  eruption  of  granite  through  a  thick  bed  of 
argillaceous  slate  rocks,  the  strata  having  been  broken  into 
fragments  of  a  rhomboidal  form,  and  into  pieces  which  va- 
ry from  a  few  inches  to  a  yard-  or  more  square. 

The  fragments  lay  in  every  imaginable  position,  just  as 
if  they  were  swept  up  by  a  thick,  pasty  mass  of  semi-fluid 
granite,  which  indurated  around  them  by  cooling.  Some 
of  the  masses  were  rendered  scoriacous,  and  resemble  ve- 
sicular trap-rock,  but  generally  they  do  not  appear  to  have 
been  much  altered  by  heat. 

The  granite  contains  no  mica,  but  is  composed  princi- 
pally of  felspar,  with  a  little  quartz.  There  are  no  roun- 
ded or  water-worn  pebbles  in  the  breccia,  hence  it  cannot 
be  considered  as  a  conglomerate  of  aqueous  deposition. 

This  locality  proves  most  incontestibly  the  correctness 
of  a  statement  made  in  my  Reports  on  the  Geology  of 
Maine,  that  the  eruption  of  the  granite  rocks  of  this  region 
took  place  immediatel/  after  the  deposition  of  the  roofing- 
slate,  while  other  localities  in  Maine  indicate  that  the  erup- 


PIGWACKET    MOUNTAIN.  Ill 

tion  was  anterior  to  the  deposition  of  the  red  sandstones 
of  the  St.  Croix  and  New  Brunswick. 

On  reaching  the  summit  of  Pigwacket  Mountain,  the 
rocks  were  found  to  consist  of  a  very  hard  breccia,  com- 
posed of  the  same  kind  of  granite  before  described,  con- 
taining small  fragments  of  slate,  rarely  more  than  an  inch 
in  diameter. 

Diluvial  furrows  occur  on  the  surface  of  the  included 
masses  of  slate,  at  about  half  way  up  the  mountain,  and 
run  N.  30°  W.,  S.  30°  E.,  and  it  is  evident,  from  their 
uniform  course,  that. they  were  produced  since  the  slate 
was  included  in  the  breccia. 

From  the  summit  of  this  mountain  the  following  bear- 
ings were  taken,  by  means  of  a  Messiat  compass : 

Mt.  Washington  N.  30°  30'  W. 

Baldface  Mt  >  N   ^0  3Q/  w 

Iron  Mine      $ 

Chocorua  peak,  highest,          S.  52°  30/  W. 

Pry  burg  Village  S.  31°  35'  W. 

Lovel's  Pond  S.  37°         E. 

Chatigee  Corner  S.  20°         E. 

Saco  River  is  seen  to  the  S.  W.,  and  winds  around  to 
the  S.  E.,  forming  an  oxbow  at  Fryburg  Village. 

The  ranges  of  mountains  seen  from  this  peak  have  a  N. 
and  S.  direction. 

The  view  of  the  surrounding  country  is  truly  magnifi- 
cent, and  is  more  picturesque  than  that  obtained  from  the 
summits  of  very  elevated  mountains. 

We  were  not  able  to  measure  its  altitude  above  the 
sea,  on  account  of  the  accidental  breaking  of  the  barome- 
ter a  few  days  previous.  It  is,  however,  a  lofty  mountain, 
since  the  only  vegetation  on  its  summit  consists  of  the 
high  Alpine  plants,  such  as  grow  near  the  summits  of  Mts. 
Washington  and  La  Fayette,  but  it  is  not  so  high  as  even 
the  last  mentioned  mountain, 


112  EATON. 

Prom  Bartlett  to  Eaton  the  rocks  are  uniformly  granite, 
and  the  soil  is  composed  of  its  finely  comminuted  parti- 
cles. 

In  the  town  of  Eaton,  14  years  since,  I  had  occasion  to 
examine  a  vein  of  sulphuret  of  lead  and  blende,  which 
was  discovered  at  that  time,  and  was  subsequently  wrought 
to  some  extent  by  Messrs.  Binney,  Ripley  and  Tyson.  At 
the  time  of  my  first  visit  the  country  around  the  mine  was 
a  wilderness,  and  but  a  few  blasts  had  been  made  to  ex- 
tract samples  of  the  ore  from  the  vein.  Since  that  time  a 
shaft  has  been  sunk  into  the  vein,  to  the  depth  of  40  feet, 
and  a  quantity  of  the  galena  was  extracted  for  trial.  Fif- 
teen barrels  of  the  picked  lead  ore,  weighing  from  1,200 
to  1,260  Ibs.  each,  were  sent  to  Baltimore  for  reduction  to 
lead,  and  several  hogsheads  of  it  were ,  sent  to  Boston  by 
the  way  of  Portland.  The  zinc  ore  which  forms  the  prin- 
cipal mass  of  the  vein  was  entirely  neglected,  and  several 
hundred  tons  of  it  now  lie  near  the  mouth  of  the  mine. 

I  thought  it  would  prove  interesting  to  make  a  renewed 
examination  of  this  vein,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  practi- 
cability of  working  it  for  zinc,  and  re-visited  it  for  that 
purpose. 

The  width  of  the  vein,  as  I  had  before  stated,  is  six  feet, 
and  it  consists  mostly  of  yellow  blende,  or  sulphuret  of 
zinc,  which  includes  veins  and  scattered  masses  of  galena 
or  sulphuret  of  lead.  The  course  of  the  principal  vein  is 
N.  21°  E.,  S.  21°  W.,  and  it  dips  to  the  westward  60°  or 
65°.  Beside  this  occur  a  number  of  smaller  veins,  from  a 
few  inches  to  one  foot  wide.  Drainage  is  practicable  and 
easy  for  the  depth  of  more  than  100  feet  into  a  pond  close 
by  it  on  the  North.  A  gallery  should  be  cut  from  this 
pond  to  the  vein,  so  as  to  free  the  mine  from  water,  the 
vein  being  readily  struck  at  a  lower  level  by  this  means, 
while  by  continuing  the  present  perpendicular  shaft,  ven- 
tilation may  be  readily  and  conveniently  effected.  A  vein 


EATON.       TAMWORTH.       MOULTONBOROUGH.  113 

six  feet  wide  affords  ample  room  for  the  miners  to  work, 
keeping  always  among  the  ore,  so  that  no  labor  Jwill  be 
wasted.  I  have  no  doubt  that  this  mine  will  prove  valu- 
able, provided  the  zinc  ore  is  wrought.  The  lead  ore  may 
be  separated  into  one  heap,  and  the  zinc  into  another,  so 
that  both  ores  may  be  wrought  at  the  same  works.  The 
zinc  ore  contains  63  per  cent,  of  metallic  zinc,  according 
to  my  analysis,  and  should  yield  in  the  large  way  from  35 
to  40  per  cent,  of  the  metal. 

The  lead  ore  contains  84  per  cent,  of  lead,  and  should 
yield  75  per  cent,  when  smelted  in  the  large  way. 

1000  pounds  of  the  lead  ore  contains  1  pound  of  silver, 
and  if  the  ore  is  converted  into  litharge,  after  the  English 
and  German  methods,  the  silver  may  be  separated  and  re- 
fined. If  all  these  operations  should  be  carried  on  at  the 
same  works,  it  would  be  necessary  to  have  a  large  capital 
and  experienced  workmen  to  conduct  the  operations. 

An  abundance  of  charcoal  may  be  obtained  for  supply- 
ing the  furnaces,  and  its  present  price  is  $4  per  hundred 
bushels. 

It  is  hoped  that  persons  interested  in  mines  will  attend 
to  this  valuable  vein,  for  it  is  one  of  the  largest  and  richest 
in  New  England. 

Copper  pyrites  has  been  found  2  miles  N.  E.  from  At- 
kins' Tavern,  in  Eaton,  and  bog  iron  ore  near  Walker's 
Pond,  in  the  East  part  of  the  town,  also  on  Larey's  Hill. 
I  saw  specimens  of  the  ore,  but  was  unable  to  visit  the  lo- 
cality, on  account  of  illness,  which  confined  me  to  the 
house  for  a  week. 

Lead  ore  also  exists  near  White  Pond,  in  Tamworth,  but 
I  was  not  able,  at  the  time  of  my  visit  to  examine  the  lo- 
cality, but  shall  take  an  early  opportunity  to  explore  the 
veins  and  ascertain  their  value. 

The  rocks  in  Tamworth  and  Moultonborough  are  gran- 
ite, cut  through  occasionally  by  powerful  dykes  of  green- 

14 


114  GUNSTOCK    MOUNTAIN. 

stone  trap  rock  and  sienite.  Ossipee  Mountain  and  Red 
Hill  present  interesting  examples,  and  have  been  described 
by  my  assistants  in  a  former  section.  The  region  around 
Winnipissiogee  Lake  was  also  explored  by  them,  and  I 
subsequently  visited  it  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  some 
additional  information  respecting  a  vein  of  iron  ore  on 
Gunstock  Mountain,  in  Gilford,  and  statistics  concerning 
the  fertility  of  the  soil  on  Cow  and  Long  Islands. 

In  the  chemical  and  agricultural  departments,  I  shall 
state  the  facts  learned  on  this  subject. 

The  vein  of  magnetic  iron  ore  on  Gunstock  Mountain 
was  opened  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  iron  ore  for  the 
supply  of  a  furnace,  but  was  soon  abandoned,  since  the 
vein  was  found  to  be  too  narrow  to  furnish  an  adequate 
supply  of  ore.  The  ground  around  the  mine  is  covered 
with  an  abundance  of  the  ore,  which  is  highly  magnetic 
with  polarity,  and  will  furnish  an  abundance  of  native 
magnets. 

From  the  summit  of  this  mountain  we  have  a  magnifi- 
cent view  of  Winnipissiogee  Lake,  with  its  numerous  bays 
and  islands ;  of  the  latter  we  counted  no  less  than  sixty  in 
full  view.  The  mountain  is  elevated  1583  feet  above  the 
ground  at  Gilford,  and  is  2068  feet  above  the  sea-level. 

By  a  meridional  observation  of  the  sun,  its  latitude  is 
N.  43°  31'  56". 

The  following  bearings  were  taken  with  a  Messiat  com- 
pass from  the  summit  of  Gunstock  Mountain : 

Meeting-house  at  Meredith  Bridge,         N.  78°  20'  W. 

North  peak  Ossipee  Mt.  N.  16°  25'  E. 

Chocoma  peak,  N.  17°  30'  E. 

Centre  Harbor  M.  H.  N.     9°  30'  W. 

Meredith  Village  Cong.  M..  H.  N.  26°        W. 

Wolfborough  Village  Bridge,  N.  72°  25'  E. 

These  observations  may  prove  of  some  utility  in  fixing 
the  situations  of  places  on  the  Map  of  the  State. 


GILFORD.       MEREDITH.        CANTERBURY.  115 

Loose  blocks  or  boulders  of  Limestone  occur  in  Gilford, 
but  no  such  rock  has  yet  been  found  there  in  place. 

They  have  been  found,  it  is  said,  on  the  estate  of  Dr. 
J.  L.  Perley,  of  the  size  of  a  bushel  basket.  The  rocks 
on  the  farm  belonging  to  Dr.  Perley's  father,  three  miles 
to  the  North  of  this  place,  are  said  to  be  sufficiently  cal- 
careous to  effervesce  with  acids,  but  are  not  like  the  masses 
of  limestone  which  have  been  found  Joose.  It  will  be  in- 
teresting to  ascertain  the  original  bed  of  these  erratic 
blocks  of  limestone,  which  must  have  been  transported 
from  the  north-west,  according  to  the  course  of  the  an- 
cient currents,  as  indicated  by  striae  on  the  surface  of  the 
rocks. 

Near  Meredith  Bridge  there  is  a  small  deposit  of  peat, 
which  is  from  2  to  3  feet  deep,  and  may  be  converted  into 
a  valuable  meadow  by  suitable  treatment. 

Specimens  of  plumbago  wiere  shown  me,  which  were 
said  to  have  been  found  in  Thornton. 

Centre  Harbor  and  the  other  places  of  interest  around 
this  Lake,  have  been  described  by  my  assistants. 

Canterbury,  the  seat  of  a  flourishing  Shaker  settlement, 
is  founded  upon  granite  rocks,  and  possesses  a  granite  soil, 
which  is  not  naturally  fertile,  but  by  the  patient  industry 
and  skill  of  the  Society  of  Shakers,  is  rendered  produc- 
tive. 

The  rocks  in  the  town  are  not  interesting,  and,  so  far  as 
we  were  enabled  to  observe,  do  not  promise  to  be  impor- 
tant as  localities  of  minerals.  My  attention  was,  therefore, 
called  to  the  condition  of  agriculture  with  the  Shakers, 
and  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  proving  useful  to  them,  by 
calling  their  attention  to  the  value  of  a  large  tract  of  peat 
land  which  they  possess,  but  had  not  then  rendered  valu- 
able by  improving  it. 

The  bog  is  about  half  a  mile  from  their  dwellings,  and 
comprises  about  50  acres.  It  is  more  than  thirty  feet  deep, 


116  HILLSBOROUGH.      GOSHEN. 

and  may  be  easily  drained  and  cultivated.  By  cutting 
ditches  around  the  margin  of  the  bog,  the  lateral  springs 
may  be  intercepted,  and  drawn  off  into  a  general  drain. 
The  peat  dug  from  the  ditches  will  furnish  an  abundance 
of  vegetable  matter  for  making  compost  manure,  and  when 
the  bog  is  once  drained,  its  surface  may  be  turned  with  a 
plough,  and  then  rolled  down,  manured  and  planted.  In 
short,  I  should  recommend  precisely  that  method  of  treat- 
ment which  is  employed  by  Elias  Phinney,  Esq.,  of  Lex- 
ington, an  account  of  which  I  have  formerly  published  in 
my  Reports  on  the  Geology  and  Agriculture  of  Maine  and 
Rhode  Island. 

Prom  Concord  I  explored  the  Geology  of  the  country  to 
Hillsborough,  and  from  thence  to  Amherst,  from  whence 
I  measured  a  sectional  line  over  the  country  to  the  west- 
ward, passing  through  Peterborough  and  over  Monadnock 
Mountain,  in  Dublin,  to  Keene,  and  from  thence  to  the 
Connecticut  River,  at  Brattleborough,  Vt. 

A  brief  outline  of  this  section  is  all  that  can  at  present 
be  attempted. 

In  Hillsborough  occur  a  few  minerals  of  interest,  which 
will  be  mentioned  more  particularly  hereafter. 

Graphite  or  plumbago  is  found  in  a  state  of  great  purity, 
but  the  veins  are  narrow,  rarely  being  more  than  8  or  10 
inches  wide.  It  is  included  in  mica  slate,  which  is  cut 
through  by  a  vein  of  granite. 

The  locality  is  of  value  to  those  residing  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, since  mining  for  plumbago  may  occupy  their  lei- 
sure time,  and  will  repay  them  well  for  their  labor,  since 
it  is  worth  $60  per  ton  for  the  manufacture  of  crucibles, 
and  is  now  in  constant  demand. 

In  Goshen  a  plumbago  vein  is  wrought,  by  Mr.  Pierce, 
of  Hillsborough,  who  employs  a  number  of  men  advanta- 
geously part  of  the  year  in  the  business,  and  supplies  a 
large  quantity  of  plumbago  to  the  manufacturers  of  cruci- 


SOAPSTONE    QUARRY    AT    FRANCESTOWN.  117 

bles  in  Taunton,  Mass.  Mica  slate,  gneiss,  and  granite, 
comprise  all  the  varieties  of  rocks  on  this  route,  until  we 
reach  Prancestown,  where  a  very  valuable  bed  of  soft  tal- 
cose  rock  or  soapstone  occurs,  imbedded  in  the  mica  slate. 


Description  of  the  Soapstone  quarry  at  Francestown. 

Soapstone  of  excellent  quality  exists  in  Francestown 
on  the  estate  of  Daniel  Fuller,  Esq.  It  was  discovered 
by  him  accidentally  in  1794,  while  engaged  in  ploughing 
his  field.  He  remarked  that  the  plough  and  harrow  did 
not  make  any  gritting  noise  in  passing  over  this  ledge, 
while  it  did  on  the  others,  and  on  examining  the  rock, 
found  it  to  be  a  soft  variety  of  soapstone.  It  was  first 
wrought  in  1802,  and  was  transported  to  Boston  for  sale  in 
1812.  Since  that  time,  the  value  of  the  stone  has  been 
steadily  increasing,  and  is  now  in  greater  demand  than 
ever. 

I  visited  this  quarry,  examined  the  rock  with  care,  and 
obtained  through  the  politeness  of  Mr.  Fuller  a  full  statis- 
tical account  of  the  business.  The  quarry  is  situated  one 
mile  eastward  of  the  Francestown  meeting-house. 

The  soapstone  is  a  very  soft  variety  of  crystalline  tal- 
cose  rock,  composed  entirely  of  the  interlaced  crystals  or 
laminae  of  Talc.  It  is  a  regular  bed  included  between 
walls  of  mica  slater  and  runs  parallel  with  the  course  of 
the  strata  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  and  dips  to  the  N.  W.  60°  In 
its  widest  part  the  bed  measures  40  feet  in  thickness,  and 
it  narrows  to  the  south  westward  to  20  feet.  In  the  mid- 
dle it  measures  from  25  to  30  feet.  It  has  been  quarried 
to  the  depth  of  40  feet,  but  the  natural  drainage  keeps  the 
quarry  free  from  water  only  to  the  depth  of  36  feet.  The 
length  of  the  bed  so  far  as  it  is  exposed  to  view  is  400 
feet. 


118  SOAPSTONE   Q.UARRY  AT  FRANCESTOWN. 

A  small  part  of  the  south  western  extremity  of  this  bed 
is  owned  by  Mr.  Daniel  Clarke  who  also  quarries  the  stone. 
It  is  not  improbable  that  the  soapstone  will  be  found  to 
extend  beyond  its  present  ascertained  limits,  and  it  will  be 
worth  while  for  those  who  are  interested  to  examine  the 
country  to  the  north  eastward  and  south  westward  of  the 
openings  where  the  stone  is  now  wrought. 

The  mode  of  quarrying  soapstone  which  is  here  em- 
ployed is  to  saw  out  the  blocks  by  means  of  large  cross- 
cut saws  so  as  to  obtain  sound  blocks  and  to  waste  as  little 
as  possible. 

Mr.  Fuller  proposes  to  erect  a  small  steam  engine  to 
pump  out  the  water  from  the  quarry  and  the  same  engine 
will  drive  saws  for  manufacturing  the  stone  into  slabs. 

This  will  allow  the  quarry  to  be  wrought  to  a  much 
greater  depth.  The  usual  sized  blocks  now  obtained, 
measure  6  feet  by  3,  and  7  feet  by  5.  Smaller  blocks  and 
slabs  are  also  wrought,  Twelve  cubic  feet  of  the  rock 
are  estimated  to  weigh  a  ton.  Cost  of  quarrying  is  from 
seven  to  ten  dollars  per  ton.  About  250  tons  have  been 
quarried  and  sold  in  a  year  in  the  most  favorable  times. 
It  is  transported  by  teams  to  Nashua  and  sent  from  thence 
to  Charlestown  or  is  carried  directly  to  Boston  in  wagons. 
The  distance  to  Boston  is  60  miles  and  the  expense  of 
transportation  is  $7  20  per  ton.  The  stone  sells  in  Boston 
for  $3  00  or  3  50  per  cubic  foot.  It  is  extensively  em- 
ployed for  making  fire  places,  grates,  boiler  tops,  stoves, 
sinks,  funnel  pipes,  and  for  rollers  used  in  dressing  cotton 
warp  in  the  factories. 

The  rollers  are  made  4  1-2  feet  long  and  from  5  to  6 
inches  in  diameter.  Soapstone  is  preferred  to  all  other 
materials  for  the  above  mentioned  use. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  statements,  that  soapstone 
is  a  very  valuable  material  and  brings  a  considerable  reve- 
nue to  citizens  employed  in  the  business. 


AMHERST.       JAFFREY.  119 

Prom  Francestown  to  Mount  Vernon  the  rocks  are  mica 
slate  and  granite.  In  the  latter  town  just  before  descend- 
ing into  the  valley  of  Amherst  there  is  an  abrupt  mass  of 
a  coarse  variety  of  granite  containing  white  felspar.  A 
sudden  descent  conducts  to  the  plain  where  the  pretty 
village  of  Amherst  is  spread  out  in  a  valley  of  ancient 
alluvial  origin,  which  appears  as  if  it  once  formed  the  basin 
of  a  lake  but  was  subsequently  filled  in  part  with  soil. 

Only  a  short  time  was  devoted  to  the  examination  of 
this  town  since  the  rocks  are  generally  concealed  from 
view  and  but  little  real  information  could  be  obtained 
from  inspection  of  them. 

Leaving  Amherst,  after  obtaining  much  useful  agri- 
cultural information,  through  the  politeness  of  Mr.  Pea- 
body,  we  continued  our  route  to  Peterborough,  obser- 
ving that  the  rocks  in  Milford,  Wilton,  and  Temple, 
consisted  of  gneiss  and  porphyrite  granite.  The  gneiss 
in  Peterborough  contains  iron  pyrites  and  by  its  decom- 
position the  rock  is  strongly  stained  with  the  per  oxide  of 
iron.  Numerous  blocks  of  porphyritic  granite,  out  of 
place,  rest  on  the  surface  of  the  soil. 

We  next  visited  Jaffrey  near  the  base  of  Monadnock 
mountain,  and  having  made  some  astronomical  observa- 
tions to  fix  the  latitude  of  the  place,  we  ascended  to  the 
summit  of  Monadnock,  carrying  with  us  a  sextant,  artifi- 
cial horizon,  one  of  the  barometers,  and  a  compass.  Mr. 
Cutter  of  Jaffrey  kindly  volunteered  to  guide  us  by  the 
easiest  route  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain. 

Setting  out  on  foot  from  the  house  of  Elias  Mann  we 
began  the  ascent,  remarking  that  the  rocks  for  the  first 
part  of  the  way  are  gneiss  and  mica  slate,  the  strata  of 
which  dip  to  the  northward.  The  mica  slate  contains  an 
abundance  of  fibrolite,  which  gives  it  a  porphyritic  ap- 
pearance. Higher  up  we  noted  the  occurrence  of  diluvial 


120          .  JAFFREY.       KEENE. 

scratches  on  the  surface  of  the  rock,     They  run  N.  35° 
W.,  S.  35°  E. 

Above  this  we  came  to  narrow  beds  of  plumbago  which 
is  not  pure  enough  to  prove  valuable. HJPy rope  garnets 
also  abound  in  the  granite  veins. 

At  11  A.  M.  we  reached  the  summit  of  the  mountain, 
and  after  making  due  preparations,  took  the  requisite  ob- 
servations for  determining  the  height  and  place  of  the 
mountain. 

The  rocks  on  the  summit  of  Monadnock  consist  of  a 
hard  variety  of  gneiss  filled  with  small  crystals  of  garnets. 
The  plants  are  generally  of  an  Alpine  character ;  only  a 
few  dwarfish  spruce  trees  grow  in  the  crevices  of  the 
rocks  with  an  abundance  of  mountain  saxifragas  and  car- 
ices.  The  declivity  of  the  mountain  is  celebrated  for  the 
abundance  and  fine  quality  of  its  blueberries  which  tempt 
the  people  resident  in  the  vicinity  to  ascend  the  mountain 
for  the  purpose  of  gathering  them. 

The  surrounding  country  seen  from  this  elevated  peak 
appears  to  be  an  extended  plain  the  surface  of  which  is 
studded  with  villages.  Keene  bears  N.  30°  W.  ;  Jaffrey, 
S.  E. ;  Fitzwilliam  S.  30°  W.  and  Wachusett  Mountain. 
S.  15°  E. 

Descending  we  continue  our  journey  to  Keene  where 
several  days  were  spent  in  examining  the  various  localities 
of  minerals. 

The  granite  and  mica  slate  of  this  town  contain  large 
veins  and  beds  of  milk  quartz  which  is  used  at  the  New 
Hampshire  glass  works  for  the  manufacture  of  cylinder 
window  glass  which  is  of  superior  quality. 

In  the  town  of  Swanzey  near  Keene,  Dr.  Smith  guided 
me  to  a  locality  where  magnetic  iron  ore  occurs  in  large 
crystalline  masses  disseminated  in  a  granite  vein. 

The  ore  occurs  on  a  low  hill  and  is  contained  in  veins 
of  granite  which  traverse  the  gneiss  rock  in  a  direction 


KEENE.       GILStTM.  121 

N.  5°  W.,  S.  5°  E.     The  veins  are  3  or  4  feet  wide  and 
extend  for  the  distance  of  20  rods. 

The  masses  of  iron  ore  are  imperfectly  octahedral  and 
split  into  plates  or  folia.  The  locality  furnishes  interest- 
ing specimens  but  it  will  not  prove  valuable  as  an  iron 
mine  for  it  would  cost  too  much  to  pick  the  ore  prepara- 
tory to  smelting  it. 

West  hill  in  Keene  is  the  locality  where  the  milk  quartz 
at  present  used  for  making  glass  is  obtained.  The  quartz 
occurs  in  veins  which  run  north  and  south  and  dip  to  the 
westward.  They  vary  in  width  from  18  to  75  feet  and 
are  favorably  situated  for  quarrying,  since  the  hill  is  ele- 
vated about  150  feet  above  the  plain  and  the  slope  is  gen- 
tle. Beyond  the  summit  of  the  hill  are  many  other  beds 
and  veins  of  quartz  which  have  not  yet  been  wrought. 

A  few  narrow  beds  of  plumbago  are  found  associated 
with  the  quartz  rock  and  mica  slate  and  considerable 
quantities  have  been  obtained  for  commercial  use  but  the 
work  has  lately  been  abandoned. 

Last  year  20  or  30  tons  of  black  lead  were  obtained 
from  this  mine  but  it  is  extremely  difficult  now  to  extract 
it  from  the  rocks. 

A  bed  of  dark  colored  soapstone  occurs  near  this  place 
and  will  prove  useful  for  coarse  work,  but  it  is  rather  too 
hard  to  compete  with  that  which  is  found  in  Francestown. 

The  bed  is  21  feet  wide,  and  runs  N.  30°  W.,  S.  30° 
E.  and  dips  to  the  S.  E.  70°.  A  quarry  has  been  opened 
for  the  extent  of  50  feet  in  length  and  some  tolerably  good 
stone  has  been  obtained. 

A  very  handsome  light  colored  granite  is  extensively 
employed  for  building  in  Keene,  and  is  quarried  in  the 
towns  of  Roxbury  and  Maryborough. 

From  Keene  to  Gilsum  the  granite  abounds,  and  forms 
beds  and  veins  in  the  gneiss  and  rnica  slate.  The  latter 
rock  occasionally  passes,  by  imperceptible  shades,  into 

15 


122  GILSUM 


hornblende  slate  containing  garnets.  On  the  hill,  the  strata 
dip  to  the  S.  S.  E.  Beyond  this  rock  we  come  to  a  vari- 
ety of  mica  slate  stained  strongly  with  the  per  oxide  of 
iron. 

Near  the  house  of  Mr.  Samuel  Bingham,  in  Gilsum, 
there  is  a  huge  block  of  coarse  granite  resting  upon  the 
crushed  edges  of  strata  of  mica  slate.  This  remarkable 
block  of  granite  has  received  the  name  of  the  Vessel 
Rock,  and  it  appears  to  have  been  stranded  upon  the  mica 
slate  ledge,  where  it  was  deposited  by  the  diluvial  current 
which  passed  over  the  country  in  ancient  times. 

This  huge  block  of  granite  was  split  asunder  in  the 
winter  of  1817  when  an  immense  mass  of  it  was  separa- 
ted probably  by  the  action  of  frost.  Some  of  the  people 
resident  in  the  vicinity  impute  this  fracture  to  the  agency 
of  an  earthquake,  which  is  said  to  have  taken  place  at  the 
time  mentioned, 

The  principal  block  measures  46  feet  in  length,  24  feet 
in  width,  and  it  is  26  feet  high.  The  portion  which  was 
split  off  in  1817,  measures  33  feet  in  length  and  10  feet  in 
width.  The  principal  block  contains  28,704  cubic  feet, 
and  the  lesser  3300  cubic  feet,  the  whole  mass  including 
32,004  cubic  feet  of  stone,  which,  allowing  14  cubic  feet 
to  the  ton,  will  weigh  2286  tons. 

Some  suppose  this  huge  rock  was  transported  from 
its  parent  ledge  in  Alstead,  but  since  we  found  a  large 
bed  of  similar  rock  135  feet  to  the  north-westward  of  it, 
there  is  great,  probability  of  its  having  been  transported 
from  that  spot  to  its  present  situation  by  the  impulse  of 
water,  aided  by  the  uplifting  power  of  ice.  The  removal 
of  such  an  enormous  mass  of  granite,  even  to  this  dis- 
tance, is  a  matter  of  astonishment. 

I  have  a  drawing  of  the  Vessel  Rock  which  will  ap- 
pear with  the  illustrations  hereafter.  The  present  wood 


(UlANlTi:   IN   GILSLM. 


123 


cut  diagram  will  give  a  good  idea  of  its  present  situation, 
and  of  its  original  bed. 


a.  The  erratic  block  of  granite. 

b.  The  original  bed  from  whence  it  was  probably  broken  off'. 

The  dark  lines  represent  the  strata  of  mica  slate  on  which  the  erratic  block  rests. 


Surry  Mountain  contains  small  beds  of  plumbago  which 
have  been  wrought  for  the  manufacture  of  melting  pots 
for  copper  founders.  The  mine  exists  on  the  estate  of 
Mr.  Livermore,  and  is  owned  by  some  person  resident  in 
Boston.  We  were  unable  at  the  time  of  our  visit  to  ex- 
amine the  locality  in  order  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  the 
plumbago. 

Having  before  described  the  outlines  of  the  geology  of 
Chesterfield,  and  of  Westmoreland,  it  will  only  be  neces- 
sary to  refer  to  our  longitudinal  section  for  the  description 
of  the  remainder  of  this  outline  of  a  transverse  section 
from  the  Merrimack  to  the  Connecticut  River. 

On  attentively  examining  the  map  of  the  State,  while 
reading  the  remarks  which  have  been  thus  far  made  re- 
specting the  outlines  of  our  sections,  it  will  be  perceived 
that  they  are  so  arranged  as  to  give  a  very  comprehensive 
view  of  the  principal  rocks  of  the  State.  All  that  now 
remains  to  be  done  is  to  fill  up  this  rough  sketch  by  more 
minute  explorations  in  order  to  represent  the  ground  plan 
of  our  work.'.'....;- 

We  have  next  to  consider  the  Economical  Geology,  or 
the  application  of  the  science  to  objects  of  practical  utility. 


124  ECONOMICAL  GEOLOGY. 

I  shall  therefore  select  a  few  of  the  most  prominent 
subjects  to  which  the  attention  of  the  citizens  of  the  State 
ought  to  be  called,  leaving  other  yet  imperfectly  ascer- 
tained points  for  future  discussion,  when  I  hope  to  be  able 
to  give  a  more  detailed  account  respecting  their  value. 


ECONOMICAL  GEOLOGY. 


Under  this  head,  I  shall  consider  the  nature  and  uses  of 
some  of  the  most  important  minerals  of  the  State,  and 
their  application  to  the  ordinary  purposes  of  life,  also  the 
nature  of  soils  and  whatever  may  be  considered  as  among 
the  geological  resources  of  the  country. 

It  becomes  every  State  to  examine  minutely  into  its 
natural  capabilities,  in  order  to  know  what  reliance  may 
be  placed  upon  them  for  wealth  and  support,  both  in  times 
of  peace,  and  when  the  commerce  of  the  country  is  ob- 
structed by  war.  Although  it  is  the  desire  of  every  good 
man  that  the  difficulties  of  nations  should  be  amicably 
adjusted,  still  we  know  that  so  long  as  the  bad  passions 
exist  in  the  human  heart,  that  the  last  resort  of  nations 
will  occasionally  take  place,  and  it  is  an  acknowledged 
and  wise  maxim,  founded  on  experience,  that  in  times  of 
peace  we  should  prepare  for  war. 

France  and  England,  when  compelled  by  foreign  poli- 
cy, turned  their  attention  more  immediately  to  their  natural 
resources.  Their  agriculture  was  invigorated,  and  their 
arts  improved.  Geology  and  Chemistry  taught  them  to 
discover  and  use  their  own  minerals.  Iron,  lead,  cop- 
per, sulphur  and  nitre,  seemed  to  burst  forth  from  their 
own  soil  and  supplied  those  articles  which  they  could  no 
longer  obtain  from  foreign  countries.  By  the  discovery 
and  free  use  of  lime,  Scotland,  before  comparatively  bar- 
ren, was  rendered  a  wheat  growing  country.  Chemistry 


126  ECONOMICAL  GEOLOGY. 

gave  a  quit  claim  to  the  verdant  fields  formerly  over- 
spread by  thousands  of  acres  of  cotton  fabrics,  and  per- 
formed the  bleaching  operations  by  the  aid  of  Chlorine, 
within  the  doors  of  the  factory.  New  arts  have  been 
created  by  the  aid  of  science,  which  calls  upon  the  rocks 
for  a  supply  of  the  raw  materials  which  she  employs. 
By  chemical  analysis  of  excrementitious  matters  for- 
merly employed  in  the  dye-house,  we  learn  what  those 
peculiar  principles  and  substances  contain,  which  ren- 
der them  capable  of  effecting  certain  results,  and  their 
salts  were  discovered  and  manufactured  from  inorganic 
matter,  thus  rendering  the  arts  an  essential  service  by 
effecting  the  operations  in  a  neat  and  certain  manner, 
while  agriculture,  no  longer  deprived  of  any  portion  of 
those  substances  which  it  requires  for  the  fertilization  of 
the  soil,  receives  a  share  of  the  benefit.  Thus  by  the 
study  of  the  phosphates  and  arseniates,  and  the  action  of 
ammomacal  salts,  several  important  arts  have  been  perma- 
nently improved.  Indigo,  a  costly  vegetable  product,  was 
replaced  by  chemical  skill,  by  another  rich  blue  coloring 
matter  obtained  by  the  action  of  potash  upon  refuse  ani- 
mal matter,  and  by  the  precipitation  thereby  of  a  salt  of 
iron  upon  the  fabric,  the  coloring  is  effected. 

No  longer  need  we  wholly  depend  upon  a  supply  of  the 
costly  wares  from  China,  for  our  own  felspars  will  produce 
them,  and  our  metallic  oxides  will  give  them  their  beautiful 
colors.  Venice  has  long  ceased  to  be  the  glass-house  of  the 
world,  for  wherever  silex,  potash,  lime  and  lead  are  found, 
we  can  manufacture  every  variety  of  that  indispensable 
material.  We  need  not  send  to  Damascus,  or  Toledo,  or 
to  Sweden  for  the  finest  steel,  for  we  can  make  it  our- 
selves from  our  own  iron  ores.  The  flanks  of  Mount  Etna 
may  still  supply  us  with  sulphur,  for  nature  can  produce 
it  at  a  cheaper  rate  than  it  can  be  manufactured  by  art 


ECONOMICAL    GEOLOGY. 


127 


from  our  own  sulphurets  ;  but  in  case  we  should  ever  be 
thrown  upon  our  own  resources,  it  would  then  be  obtained 
from  the  iron  and  copper  pyrites  which  occur  in  the 
rocks  of  New-Hampshire  and  Vermont,  and  it  may  be  use- 
ful to  keep  in  view  all  available  localities  where  such  sub- 
stances abound.  India  now  supplies  us  with  nitre  at  a 
lower  price  than  we  can  make  it  from  our  own  soils ;  but 
in  any  emergency  millions  of  tons  of  that  substance,  so 
essential  in  the  art  of  war,  may  be  produced  from  the  soil 
of  each  State. 

Many  veins  of  galena,  now  thought  to  be  too  limited  in 
extent  for  the  profitable  manufacture  of  lead,  would,  in 
time  of  need,  be  deemed  of  incalculable  value.  Experi- 
ence has  clearly  proved  that  when  iron  is  in  great  demand, 
many  comparatively  limited  deposits  of  bog  iron  ore  have 
proved  to  be  of  great  value  to  the  country. 

At  present  we  must  found  all  our  estimates  of  the  value 
of  minerals,  on  the  presumption  that  peace  will  be  main- 
tained, and  that  the  prices  of  manufactured  articles  will 
remain  nearly  as  they  are  at  present,  regulated  by  the 
natural  and  steady  demands  of  the  country,  and  without 
the  aid  of  any  higher  duties  on  the  imported  articles  than 
at  present  exist. 


Lime. 

Among  the  most  useful  substances  I  should  consider 
lime,  which  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  valuable 
minerals,  since  immense  quantities  of  it  are  required  for 
our  daily  wants  in  agriculture  and  the  arts.  Living  at  an 
epoch  when  this  valuable  substance  is  so  universally  known, 
we  do  not  fully  appreciate  its  immense  importance  to  man- 
kind, and  it  is  necessary  for  us  to  go  back  into  the  wilder- 


128 


LIME. 


ness,  and  there  to  contemplate  the  log-huts  and  rude  mud- 
cabins,  in  order  to  place  a  due  estimate  on  the  value  of 
lime,  to  which  we  owe  our  stately  and  permanent  edifices, 
and  the  luxury  of  tight,  warm,  and  comfortable  dwellings. 
Agriculture  and  the  chemical  arts,  as  before  suggested,  owe 
many  of  their  permanent  improvements  to  the  discovery 
of  this  invaluable  substance.  Many  persons  now  living 
can  remember  when  stone  lime  was  almost  unknown  in 
this  country,  and  will  recollect  that  we  formerly  depended 
upon  the  limited  supply  which  was  obtained  by  the  burn- 
ing of  oyster  shells,  and  at  that  time  the  article  was  so  ex- 
pensive, that  it  was  with  difficulty  obtained  by  the  poorer 
classes  of  society.  A  virgin  soil  required  but  little  skill 
for  its  cultivation,  and  the  modern  system  of  composting 
and  top-dressing  was  unknown.  Now  we  make  extensive 
use  of  calcareous  matter  in  order  to  improve  certain  soils, 
both  directly  and  indirectly,  and  the  chemical  influence  of 
lime  is  more  fully  understood,  and  will  be  hereafter  prop- 
erly applied. 

Hydraulic  cement  was  originally  imported  from  Europe,, 
but  by  chemical  means  we  are  at  present  enabled  to  man- 
ufacture it  at  pleasure  from  our  common  lime  and  fine  al- 
luvial clays. 

Bleaching  powder,  formerly  imported  exclusively  from 
the  manufactories  of  Europe,  is  now  made  from  our  own 
lime,  manganese,  and  salt,  by  simple  chemical  means,  and 
our  cotton  and  paper-mills  are  enabled  to  compete  with 
transatlantic  manufactories. 

To  trace  in  succession  the  various  links  by  which  the 
arts  are  connected,  and  to  show  their  mutual  dependance, 
and  how  the  advance  of  one  affects  the  others,  would  form 
a  voluminous  work,  which  would  extend  beyond  our  pres- 
ent limits.  Enough  has  been  already  set  forth  to  excite 
any  reflecting  mind  to  pursue  the  subject  in  its  various 
ramifications,  so  as  to  discover  other  apposite  illustrations. 


LIMESTONES.  129 

Limestones. 

Among  the  inexhaustible  limestone  beds  of  New-Hamp- 
shire, we  may  rank  those  of  Haverhill  and  Lisbon.  The 
former  is  situated,  as  described  in  a  former  section,  near  the 
base  of  Black  Mountain,  in  the  town  of  Haverhill,  about 
6  miles  north-east  from  the  village. 

This  bed  of  limestone  is  of  incalculable  importance  to 
the  people  of  New-Hampshire,  and  will  save  an  immense 
sum  from  expenditure  for  foreign  lime.  The  present 
known  limits  of  the  bed  are  evidently  far  short  of  its  real 
extent,  but  enough  is  already  exposed  to  furnish  a  constant 
supply  of  lime  for  ages.  The  whole  width  cannot  be 
less  than  400  feet,  and  its  length,  as  at  present  seen,  is  800 
feet ;  but  it  reaches  in  a  linear  direction  to  an  unknown 
extent,  such  wide  beds  rarely  narrowing,  when  traced  even 
for  the  distance  of  miles.  The  natural  drainage  is  such 
that  it  is  easy  to  excavate  the  rock  to  the  depth  of  25  or 
30  feet  without  any  aid  from  pumps  or  syphons,  so  that  the 
situation  in  this  respect  is  favorable  for  working. 

The  country  around  is  thickly  wooded,  so  that  an  un- 
limited supply  of  fuel  is  readily  commanded.  Mr.  Gan- 
nett, the  present  proprietor  of  the  limestone,  owns  900 
acres  of  woodland  on  the  hill-side  adjacent  to  the  quar- 
ries, and  he  estimates  the  cost  of  wood  fuel  only  at  50  cts. 
per  cord.  His  kilns  were  badly  constructed,  and  then  re- 
quired from  18  to  20  cords  of  wood  to  burn  a  kiln  of  60 
tierces  of  lime;  but  when  he  builds  new  kilns,  after  the 
plan  described  to  him,  he  will  require  but  8  or  10  cords  of 
wood  to  produce  the  same  result.  He  makes  two  different 
kinds  of  lime,  the  first  quality  selling  at  $1  50  per  tierce, 
the  second  at  $1  25.  Each  tierce  contains  6  bushels  of 
lime. 

When  it  is  considered  that  the  principal  expense  of  ma- 
king lime  consists  in  the  price  of  fuel,  and  that ,wood  costs 

16 


130  LIMESTONES. 

$3  per  cord  in  Thomaston,  in  Maine,  and  f  5  per  cord  in 
Smithfield,  Rhode  Island,  it  will  be  perceived  that  the 
business  of  making  lime  at  Haverhill,  even  at  the  low  price 
above  stated,  cannot  fail  to  be  profitable,  and  that  great  ad- 
vantages will  accrue  to  the  purchaser  in  the  cheapness  of  the 
article.  Heretofore  the  lime  used  upon  the  borders  of  the 
Connecticut  River,  in  New  Hampshire,  was  brought  ex- 
clusively from  Vermont,  and  immense  sums  of  money 
must  have  been  expended  in  its  purchase.  So  long  as  lime 
could  be  obtained  at  a  lower  price  from  the  Vermont 
kilns,  it  was  natural  to  depend  upon  them;  but  now  Ha- 
verhill lime  is  destined  to  supply  that  region. 


Chemical  analysis  of  the  1st  quality  Haverhill  Limestone. 

This  limestone  is  granular,  crystalline,  and  white,  hav- 
ing no  visible  foreign  matter  mixed  with  it. 

100  grains  submitted  to  chemical  analysis  yielded 
Carbonate  of  Lime,  99.3 

Mica  and  Quartz,  0.5 

Carbonate  of  Manganese,          0.2 


100.0 
or  it  contains  55.729  per  cent  of  pure  lime,  by  weight. 

The  2d  quality  limestone  contains  bluish  colored  streaks, 
like  that  from   Thomaston,  in  Maine,  and  is  granular  or 
crystalline,  but  more  solid  than  the  1st  quality  rock. 
100  grains  analyzed  yielded 

Carbonate  of  Lime,  90.66 

Mica  and  Silex,  3.80 

Carbonates  of  Iron  &  Manganese,  5.54 

100.00 
or  it  contains  51.03  per  cent,  of  lime. 


LIME   AT  LISBON.  131 

Lime  of  Lisbon. 

Limestone  likewise  abounds  in  the  town  of  Lisbon,  near 
the  S.  W.  extremity  of  Mink  Pond,  and  is  quarried  and 
burnt  for  lime  in  several  places. 

The  principal  quarries  which  are  wrought  belong  to 
Messrs.  Orren  Bronson,  Thomas  Priest,  David  Priest,  and 
Uriah  Oakes.  The  limestone  is  a  crystalline  or  coarse 
granular  variety,  marked  with  blue  and  grey  stripes,  indi- 
cating the  original  lines  of  stratification.  It  is  occasionally 
mixed  with  particles  of  mica,  and  a  little  quartz.  The 
bed  as  formerly  described,  is  contained  between  strata  of 
mica  slate,  and  pursues  a  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  direction  with 
the  line  of  strike  of  the  strata. 

Mr.  Thomas  Priest's  quarry  has  been  most  extensively 
wrought,  and  the  excavation  measures  300  feet  in  length. 
The  breadth  of  the  bed  is  13  feet.  Drainage  is  easily 
practicable  to  the  depth  of  more  than  60  feet. 

Fair  specimens  of  this  limestone  were  taken  for  chemi- 
cal analysis  and  its  composition  is  as  follows. 

100  grains  of  this  stone  analyzed  in  my  laboratory  by 
M.  B.  Williams,  yielded 

Carbonate  of  lime,  90.8 

Mica  and  quartz,  8.2 

Carbonate  of  iron  and  manganese,     1.0 

100.0 
or  it  contains  51.11  percent,  of  lime. 

David  Priest's  quarry  is  situated  1  1-2  miles  north- 
eastward from  the  one  above  mentioned. 

A  specimen  of  this  rock  analyzed  in  my  laboratoty  by 
J.  D.  Whitney,  Jr.  yielded  in  100  grs. 

Carbonate  of  lime,  81.6 

Mica  and  quartz,  15.6 

Carbonate  of  iron  and  manganese,    2.8 

100.0 
It  contains  45.59  per  cent  of  lime. 


. 


132  LIMESTONE  NEAR  FRANCONIA. 


The  lime  is  in  good  repute  and  is  employed  to  some  ex- 
tent in  the  vicinity.  Mr.  Ward  Priest  says  he  has  used  it 
very  successfully  in  agriculture  as  a  top-dressing. 

I  obtained  at  the  kiln  the  following  statistical  informa- 
tion from  Mr.  Priest. 

He  burns  from  four  to  six  kilns  of  lime  per  annum^ 
when  not  engaged  in  his  farming  operations.  The  kiln 
holds  about  35  tierces  of  lime.  Each  tierce  holds  6  bash- 
els.  One  which  I  measured  was  2  feet  4  inches  high,  ;  1 
foot  9  inches  head  diameter ;  bilges  to  1  foot  10  inches. 
Cost  the  casks  42  cts  each. 

The  kiln  is  egg-shaped  and  measures  12  feet  3  inches 
in  height,  4  feet  diameter  at  the  top,  6  feet  4  inches  in 
diameter  at  the  boshes  (a  little  below  the  centre.)  Arch 
for  fuel,  2  feet  high.  The  walls  of  the  kiln  are  2  feet 
thick,  and  are  made  of  mica  slate  lined  with  common 
bricks.  It  cost  $150. 

He  says  that  the  common  bricks  soon  glaze  over  on  the 
surface,  and  withstand  the  heat  sufficiently  well.  Four 
days  and  three  nights  are  required  for  burning  a  kiln  of 
lime,  and  10  cords  of  wood  are  consumed  in  the  operation. 
From  two  to  three  men  are  employed.  The  cost  of  wood 
cut,  split  and  delivered  at  the  kiln  is  $1  per  cord.  The 
lime  sells  for  $2  per  tierce  at  the  kiln. 

Limestone  near  Franconia. 

Mr.  Oakes'  quarry  is  situated  2  miles  west  from  Fran- 
conia furnace,  and  is  wrought  to  some  extent  for  lime. 
This  kiln  is  built  like  the  one  before  described,  but  is  of 
larger  dimensions,  containing  100  tierces  of  lime.  It  is 
built  of  the  common  rocks  found  in  the  vicinity,  and  is 
lined  with  mica  slate.  The  walls  are  from  two  to  three 


» 
LIMESTONE  NEAR  FBANCONIA.  133 

feet  in  thickness,  and  the  lining  is  1  foot  thick.  The  cost 
of  this  kiln  was  $100. 

He  sells  his  lime  for  $1.50  per  tierce,  without  the  cask, 
and  for  $2  when  packed  in  casks. 

Wood  cut  and  delivered  at  the  kiln  costs  $1  per  cord. 
Fifteen  cords  of  wood  are  required  to  burn  a  kiln  of  lime. 
Burning  requires  four  days  and  three  nights.  Three  men 
are  employed  in  attendance  on  the  kiln. 

Estimate  of  cost  and  profits  on  1  kiln  of  Lime. 

Cost  of  quarrying  and  hauling  to  kiln,  $41 

Breaking  and  filling  in,  6 

Filling  out,  10 

15  cords  of  wood,  15 

Labor,  7 

100  casks  at  42  cts.  43 

Interest  and  incidental  expenses,  say           5 

Cost,  $146 

100  casks  of  lime  sell  for  $200 

Profit  on  1  kiln  of  lime,  $54 

By  chemical  analysis  of  a  specimen  of  this  limestone, 
Mr.  Williams  obtained  in  100  grains, 

Carbonate  of  lime,  78 

Silica  and  mica,  20 

Carbonate  of  iron,  2 

100 

Hence  it  contains  43.9  per  cent,  of  lime. 

This  limestone  is  situated  favorably  for  supplying  the 
Franconia  furnace  with  a  flux  to  be  used  in  smelting  their 
iron  ores,  and  I  believe  they  obtain  it  for  that  purpose. 

Mr.  Oakes  has  employed  his  lime  successfully  in  agri- 
culture as  a  top-dressing  in  the  proportion  of  one  tierce  to 


134  LIMESTONE  OF  LYME. 

the  acre.  This  year  he  has  mixed  it  with  with  compost 
manure  and  applied  it  to  his  potato  crop,  which,  he  says, 
appears  unusually  flourishing. 


Limestone  of  Lyme. 

Chemical  analysis  of  specimens  of  limestone  from  the 
town  of  Lyme  were  also  made  by  my  pupils  during  the 
winter,  but  we  have  not  yet  obtained  information  respect- 
ing the  quarries  and  the  manufacture  of  the  lime.  The 
localities  will  be  visited  during  the  next  season,  and  the 
deficient  information  will  be  obtained.  Meanwhile  we 
present  the  analyses. 

The  light  colored  crystalline  limestone  of  Lyme  yielded 
in  100  grains, 

Carbonate  of  lime,  71.70 

Siliceous  matter,  25  70 

Carbonate  of  iron  and  manganese,  2.60 
Carbonate  of  magnesia  traces, 

100.00 

It  contains  40.35  per  cent,  of  lime. 

Analysis  of  dark  colored  limestone  from  Lyme.  100 
grains,  yield. 

Carbonate  of  lime,  83.6 

Silica  and  mica,  15.0 

Carbon,  0.2 

Carbonate  of  iron,  1.2 


100.0 

It  contains  47.04  per  cent,  of  lime. 

A  poorer  variety  of  limestone  occurs  in  Claremont,  but 
it  is  only  useful  for  agricultural  purposes,  and  must  be 
burnt  at  a  very  carefully  regulated  red  heat,  otherwise  it 
will  form  a  slag. 


BURNING  OF  LIME.  135 


Remarks  on  theburning  of  Lime. 

Prom  the  statistical  accounts  which  I  have  been  able  to 
collect  respecting  the  burning  of  lime,  it  will  appear  that 
large  kilns  are  much  more  profitable  than  small  ones,  since 
a  smaller  amount  of  fuel  is  required  and  there  is  less  waste 
of  heat.  The  kilns  which  are  used  in  Smithfield,  R.  I., 
hold  500  casks  of  lime  each,  and  they  are  by  far  the  best 
that  I  have  seen  in  operation, 

When  the  demand  for  lime  will  justify  the  attempt,  I 
should  strenuously  advise  the  lime  burner  to  construct  his 
kilns  after  that  model,  whereby  lime  may  be  produced  in 
large  quantities  and  at  a  less  cost. 

In  my  Report  on  the  Geology  and  Agriculture  of  Rhode 
Island,  will  be  seen  the  statistics  of  the  business,  and  we 
have  only  to  change  a  few  items,  particularly  that  of  the 
price  of  wood  and  of  the  rock,  and  then  the  same  statis- 
tics will  apply  to  the  cost  of  making  lime  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. The  Haverhill  lime  quarry  will  doubtless  require  a 
kiln  of  the  largest  class,  for  when  the  lime  becomes  known 
it  will  be  sought  for  by  people  resident  in  all  the  surround- 
ing country  where  limestones  have  not  been  found. 

Since  this  Report  went  to  press,  I  have  been  informed 
by  His  Excellency  Governor  Page,  that  Mr.  Gannett  has 
erected  new  kilns  after  the  model  which  I  described  to 
him,  but  of  smaller  dimensions,  and  that  he  is  now  ac- 
tively engaged  in  burning  lime,  which  meets  with  a  ready 
market  and  is  in  high  repute.  It  is  brought  to  within  20 
miles  of  Concord  by  teams. 

I  have  also  been  informed  that  the  depth  of  the  spring, 
where  the  limestone  was  first  discovered,  was  only  three 
feet  but  the  excavation  extended  horizontally  to  the  dis- 
tance mentioned  in  another  section  of  this  Report. 


136  IRON  ORES. 

Iron  Ores. 

Iron  holds  the  first  rank  among  the  useful  metals,  and 
is  essential  to  civilized  man,  for  most  of  the  arts  are  de- 
pendant upon  it  for  the  supply  of  instruments  which  are 
absolutely  necessary  for  their  prosecution. 

Civilized  man  alone  makes  use  of  iron,  and  to  that  metal 
he  in  a  great  degree  owes  his  superiority  over  the  savage. 
Science  and  skill  in  the  arts,  and  a  fixed  abode,  are  essen- 
tial to  its  manufacture,  and  therefore  it  never  has  been  re- 
duced from  its  ores  by  any  but  civilized  people. 

Its  magnetic  properties  guided  the  skilful  navigator 
across  the  ocean,  and  enabled  European  civilization  to  ex- 
tend itself  to  this  continent.  Arms  manufactured  from  it 
enabled  the  first  settlers  to  withstand  the  inroads  of  bar- 
barians, while  the  more  peaceful  implements,  the  axe  and 
the  plough,  constructed  also  of  this  metal,  enabled  the  col- 
onists to  subdue  the  forest  and  to  cultivate  the  soil. 

Steel  is  but  a  modification  of  iron,  prepared  by  the  in- 
troduction of  a  small  proportion  of  carbon  of  charcoal. 
Cast  iron  is  a  coarser  combination  of  iron  with  carbon,  of- 
ten accompanied  also  by  some  impurities,  such  as  the  ba- 
ses of  silex,  alumina,  and  occasionally  a  little  phosphorus 
or  sulphur. 

Wrought  or  bar  iron  is  nearly  free  from  these  impurities, 
and  is  in  a  great  measure  deprived  of  its  carbon  by  the 
processes  of  manufacture. 

The  ores  of  iron  which  can  be  profitably  manufactured 
are  the  oxides  of  the  metal. 

Those  usually  employed  are  the  magnetic  iron  ore,  con- 
sisting of  a  combination  of  the  prot-oxide  of  iron  with  the 
per-oxide,  in  the  proportions  of 

Prot-oxide  of  iron,         31  )  containing  oxygen  =  28.215 
Per-oxide  of  iron,  69  >  Iron  71.784 

The  ores  of  this  class  are  black,  give  a  black  powder 


IRON  ORES.  137 

when  pulverized,  which  is  strongly  attracted  by  the  mag- 
net. 

Its  specific  gravity  varies  from  4.74  to  5.09,  according 
to  its  purity  and  compactness. 

It  occurs  crystallized  in  the  form  of  the  primary  octa- 
hedron, and  in  its  secondary  form  the  rhombic  dodeca- 
hedron :  also  in  laminae,  and  in  grains  more  or  less  roun- 
ded, and  in  compact  masses. 

The  superficial  portions  of  a  vein  of  magnetic  iron  ore 
always  possess  strong  polarity,  in  directions  coinciding 
with  the  magnetic  meridian  of  the  place.  This  kind  of 
iron  is  very  abundant  in  New  Hampshire,  and  in  many 
places  may  be  economically  wrought  for  iron. 

The  Franconia  Works  make  use  of  the  granular  mag- 
netic iron  ore  exclusively,  and  a  very  tough  and  excellent 
iron  is  made  from  it. 

The  average  product  of  cast  iron  is  60  per  cent,  on  the 
ore  smelted,  but  the  pure  ore  contains  69.04  per  cent,  of 
iron,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  analysis : 

100  grains  of  the  granular  magnetic  iron  ore  of  Lisbon 
iron  mine  contain 

Prot  and  per-oxide  of  iron,  96.20 

Silica,  2.30 

Titanic  acid.  1.50 

100.00 

96.20  per  cent,  of  the  above  oxides  contain  69.04  per 
cent,  of  metallic  iron. 

Capt.  Putnam,  the  agent  of  the  Franconia  Iron  Works, 
kindly  furnished  me  with  all  the  statistical  information 
which  was  desired. 

The  New  Hampshire  Iron  Manufacturing  Company  was 
incorporated  in  June,  1805,  when  a  forge  was  erected  and 
bar  iron  was  made. 

In  1811  a  blast  furnace  was  erected,  which  has  been 

17 


138  IRON  ORES. 

kept  in  operation  since  that  time,  and  produces  from  250 
to  500  tons  of  excellent  cast  iron  per  annum.  This  is 
partly  sold  in  the  form  of  castings,  and  a  part  is  converted 
into  bar  iron  in  the  forges. 

From  100  to  140  tons  of  bar  iron  are  made  per  annum. 
The  furnace  is  kept  in  blast  from  16  to  26  weeks  at  a 
time. 

The  stack  of  the  furnace  was  built  of  granite,  and  it  is 
lined  with  mica  slate,  which  is  found  in  the  vicinity. 
The  hearth-stones  are  made  of  Landaff  quartz  rock. 
From  two  to  three  hundred  thousand  bushels  of  char- 
coal are  consumed  per  annum. 

Hard-wood  coal  costs        $4  00  per  100  bushels. 
Spruce  2  50    "     "         " 

Limestone  used  for  flux  costs  $1  per  ton. 
The  charge  for  the  furnace,  when  in  full  blast,  consists 
of 

15  bushels  of  charcoal, 
5  boxes  (56  Ibs.  each)  iron  ore. 
1  box  of  limestone  =   12  1-2  per  cent. 
Average  product,  2  1-2  tons  of  pig  iron  and  castings  per 

diem. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  blast  1  1-2  tons  only  are 

produced. 

The  ore  delivered  at  the  works  costs  $6  per  ton,  viz. 
Mining,  $5  00  per  ton. 

Hauling  to  bank,  50       " 

Breaking,  50       " 

10  miners  are  employed  at  $15  per  month  by  the  con- 
tractor. 

Price  of  pig  iron,  2  cts.  per  lb.,  castings,  5  cts.  per  lb., 
bar  iron,  5  1-2  cts.  per  lb. 

The  following  statistical  account  of  a  blast  was  han- 
ded to  me  by  the  agent : 


139 


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140  IRON    ORES. 

The  per-oxide  of  iron  presents  itself  in  several  forms, 
and  abounds  in  New  Hampshire.  When  finely  pulverized, 
this  kind  of  ore  gives  a  red  powder,  like  iron  rust,  but 
when  crystallized  it  is  often  resplendent  like  a  polished 
metal ;  hence  the  name  of  a  crystallized  variety,  specular 
iron  ore,  comes  from  its  mirror-like  brilliancy.  Among 
the  important  localities  of  this  kind  of  ore,  I  would  men- 
tion that  of  Piermont,  which  has  been  described  in  another 
part  of  the  Report. 

The  ore  is  the  micaceous  specular  oxide  of  iron. 

Specimens  of  this  ore  were  analyzed  in  my  laboratory, 
under  my  directions,  and  the  following  results  were  ob- 
tained. 

A  specimen  of  the  purest  ore  yielded  in  100  grains, 
Per  oxide  of  iron,  93.5 

Titanic  acid,  3.8 

Silica,  2.7 

100.0 

From  which  it  will  appear  that  the  ore  contains  64.8 
per  cent,  of  pure  metallic  iron. 

An  average  specimen  of  the  ore  yielded  in  100  grains, 
Per  oxide  of  iron,  75.0 

Titanic  acid,  3.8 

Silica  (quartz)  18.2 

100.0 

It  contains  54.07  per  cent,  of  metallic  iron, 
It  is  evident  from  what  has  been  heretofore  stated  as  to 
the  extent  of  the  Piermont  ore,  and  from  the  above  anal- 
ysis, that  profitable  iron  works  may  be  established  at  that 
place. 

The  iron  ore  of  Bartlett  which  occurs  on  Baldface 
Mountain,  near  the  line  of  Jackson,  has  been  described  in 
a  former  section. 


IRON  ORES.  141 

I  shall  here  state  its  composition,  and  call  public 
attention  to  its  value.  The  ore  consists  of  a  mixture 
the  per-oxide  and  the  prot-oxide  of  iron,  the  former 
largely  predominating  so  as  to  give  to  the  pulverized  ore 
a  deep  red  color.  It  is  but  slightly  magnetic,  owing  to 
the  larger  proportion  of  the  per  oxide. 

This  ore  is  also  mixed  with  a  minute  proportion  of 
oxide  of  manganese,  which  will  have  a  favorable  influ- 
ence in  the  conversion  of  the  iron  into  steel,  for  the  oxide 
of  manganese,  giving  out  a  portion  of  its  oxygen,  tends 
to  reduce  the  proportion  of  carbon  which  enters  into  the 
composition  of  cast  iron,  so  as  to  bring  the  iron  into  the 
condition  of  steel.  The  celebrated  Swedish  chemist, 
Berzelius,  is  of  opinion  that  manganese  exerts  a  very  fa- 
vorable influence  in  this  manner,  and  from  observation,  it 
is  well  known  that  such  is  the  result. 

The  Bartlett  iron  ore  was  analyzed  by  me  four  years  ago, 
and  it  was  proposed  then  to  erect  a  blast  furnace  for  the 
manufacture  of  iron,  but  embarrassments  in  the  commerce 
of  the  country  prevented  any  investment  of  capital  in  the 
business  at  that  time.  I  would  now  again  call  public 
attention  to  the  immense  veins  of  iron  ore  which  exist  in 
that  town,  for  I  am  satisfied  that  few  localities  in  New 
England  can  compete  with  that  locality  in  the  abundance 
of  the  ore  and  cheapness  of  fuel. 

The  ore  contains  from  48  to  50  per  cent,  of  pure  iron, 
on  the  average,  as  ascertained  by  several  analyses,  and 
from  1  to  5  per  cent,  of  manganese. 

100  grains  of  the  ore  was  analyzed  in  my  laboratory, 
by  Mr.  Williams,  who  obtained, 

Per  oxide  of  iron,  69.4 

Quartz  and  felspar,  25.2 

Oxide  of  manganese,  2.7 

69.4  of  per  oxide  contains  48.117  per  cent,  of  metallic 
iron. 


142  COPPER  ORES. 

Another  specimen  yielded, 

Felspar  and  quartz,  21.40 

Alumina,  0.15 

Manganese,  1.20 

Per-oxide  and  prot-oxide  >  W<T>K 

/.     .  ,  j-rf  /•  (  (  .uO 

of  iron  by  difference,  > 

100.00 
or  53  per  cent,  of  metallic  iron. 

We  may  therefore  calculate  upon  at  least  48  per  cent, 
of  cast  iron  as  the  result  of  the  smelting  operations  of  a 
blast  furnace. 


COPPER  ORES  rank  next  to  those  of  iron  in  economical 
value,  and  it  is  very  desirable  to  find  veins  of  sufficient 
magnitude  to  warrant  the  erection  of  a  copper  furnace. 

Thus  far  we  have  ascertained  the  existence  of  a  great 
number  of  small  veins,  and  a  few  of  considerable  mag- 
nitude. 

The  copper  ores  of  New  Hampshire,  which  have  been 
found  are  the  sulphurets  of  copper  and  iron,  or  copper 
pyrites. 

In  Franconia,  several  small  veins  of  a  rich  ore  of  this 
kind  occur  on.  the  estate  of  Mr.  Horace  Brooks,  but  they 
are  not  wide  enough  to  warrant  the  erection  of  works  for 
their  reduction. 

A  specimen  of  this  ore,  analyzed  in  my  laboratory  by 
M.  B.  Williams,  yielded  in  100  grains, 

Deut-oxide  of  Copper,  =  35.8  =  Copper,  28,568 
Per-oxide  of  Iron,  46.0         Iron,       31.863 

Silica,  2.0  2.000 

Sulphur,  35.0  35.000 

97.431 


COPPER  ORES.  143 

In  the  town  of  Unity,  on  the  estate  of  Mr.  J.  Neal, 
there  is  a  vein  of  copper  and  iron  pyrites  of  considerable 
magnitude.  This  vein  will  be  found  described  in  our 
North  and  South  sectional  line. 

The  ore  on  analysis  was  found  to  yield, 

Sulphur,  32.575 

Copper,  6.345 

Iron,  42.780 

Titaniferous  Iron,  18.300 

100.000 


Copper  and  Zinc  ores  of  Warren. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  town  of  Warren,  I  examined 
the  copper  mines,  on  the  Davis  farm,  belonging  to  Major 
George  Little  of  Littleton. 

The  ore  is  a  vein  included  in  mica  slate  rocks,  and 
consists  of  crystallized  tremolite,  mixed  with  small  mas- 
ses of  copper  pyrites,  and  occasionally  with  blende. 

The  principal  vein  is  at  least  20  feet  wide,  but  only  one 
wall  of  the  vein  is  disclosed.  Small  veins  of  clear  copper 
pyrites  also  run  along  the  sides  of  the  principal  vein,  be- 
tween it  and  the  wall  rock. 

The  tremolite  is  extremely  fragile,  and  may  be  easily 
separated  from  the  ore  by  the  stamping  mill  and  washing 
table,  so  that  all  the  pure  copper  ore  may  be  obtained 
separately. 

The  first  specimens  which  were  obtained  yielded  but  6 
per  cent,  of  copper  in  the  mass,  but  on  working  deeper 
into  the  vein,  the  ore  became  richer  and  yields  12  per  cent, 
and  by  washing  the  ore,  we  may  obtain  a  pure  copper 
pyrites  which  yields  27  per  cent,  of  copper. 


144  COPPER  AND  ZINC  IN  WARREN. 

An  average  specimen  of  the  last  ore  which  was  raised 
from  the  mine  yielded  on  analysis, 

Tremolite,  55.30 

Iron,  15.72 

Copper,  11.97 

Sulphur  and  loss,  17.01 

100.00 

The  mine  may  be  drained  easily  to  the  depth  of  114 
feet  without  the  aid  of  pumps,  provided  a  drain  be  cut  for 
the  distance  of  342  paces  down  the  side  of  the  hill  to  the 
brook. 

This  vein  is  worthy  of  a  careful  exploration  which  will 
soon  be  made  by  sinking  a  shaft  into  it.  On  the  opposite 
side  of  the  road,  near  the  copper  mine,  occurs  a  large  vein 
of  black  blende  or  sulphuret  of  zinc  associated  with  ga- 
lena and  copper  pyrites.  This  vein  is  irregular  and  varies 
in  width  from  one  to  five  feet.  It  dips  to  the  N.  E.  at  an 
angle  of  34°  and  runs  N.  W.  and  S.  E.  The  vein  is  in- 
cluded in  mica  slate,  and  runs  nearly  in  a  line  with  the 
strata. 

On  chemical  analysis,  the  dark  color  of  the  zinc  ore 
was  found  to  be  due  to  the  presence  of  oxide  of  iron.  It 
is  practicable  to  work  this  ore  for  zinc,  and  it  will  yield 
by  the  process  of  distillation,  after  the  English  method, 
30  per  cent,  of  zinc,  which  is  about  half  the  real  amount 
which  it  contains. 

The  lead  ore  was  analyzed,  and  it  was  found  to  contain 
a  very  minute  proportion  of  silver,  but  not  sufficient  to 
warrant  the  expense  of  extracting  it  in  a  large  way.  It 
contains  83.47  per  cent,  of  lead  and  15  per  cent  of  sulphur. 

One  specimen  yielded  one  thousandth  part  of  silver, 
but  in  others  there  was  no  trace  of  its  presence,  so  that  no 
estimate  can  be  made  of  the  silver  contained  in  the  mine, 
since  its  distribution  is  irregular. 


LEAD  AND  ZINC  ORES.  145 

In  working  the  zinc  ore  the  non-volatile  metals  such  as 
copper,  lead  and  iron  will  remain  behind  in  the  slag  which 
may  be  subsequently  separated  if  worth  the  expense. 


Lead  ore  of  Haverhill. 

The  lead  ore  of  Haverhill  found  by  Mr.  Willmot  was 
examined  for  silver,  but  on  analysis  of  200  grains  of  the 
ore,  no  trace/of  that  metal  was  discovered.  The  ore  being 
a  pure  galena  will  contain 

Lead  85 

Sulphur  15 


100 


Zinc  and  Lead  ores  of  Eaton. 

In  the  town  of  Eaton,  near  Snell's  pond,  occurs  an  \m- 
portant  vein  of  zinc  and  lead  ores.  The  dimensions  of 
this  vein,  as  before  stated,  are  sufficiently  great  to  warrant 
mining  operations,  since  a  vein  6  feet  wide  affords  ample 
room  for  the  miners.  Although  an  attempt  was  made  about 
twelve  years  since  to  work  this  mine  for  lead,  no  attention 
was  paid  to  the  zinc  ore  which  is  vastly  more  abundant 
and  affords  a  more  reasonable  hope  of  reward.  At  that 
time  no  person  in  this  country  knew  how  to  manage  the 
sulphuret  of  zinc,  but  now  it  can  be  done,  and  zinc  has 
come  into  such  general  demand  as  to  warrant  the  belief 
that  a  valuable  supply  of  that  metal  will  ere  long  be  ob- 
tained from  this  mine. 

Results  of  a  chemical  analysis  of  100  grains  of  the 
yellow  brown  blende  or  zinc  ore  of  Eaton. 

18 


146  TIN  ORE  OF  JACKSON. 

Sulphur,  33.22 

Zinc,  63.62 

Iron,  3.10 

Cadmium  and  loss,  0  06 

100.00 

The  lead  ore  is  but  8  inches  wide,  so  far  as  it  can  be 
seen,  but  the  zinc  ore  is  between  5  and  6  feet  in  the  clear. 

In  working  this  mine,  the  lead  may  be  thrown  aside  and 
can  be  smelted  when  a  sufficient  supply  is  obtained.  It 
will  yield,  according  to  my  analysis,  1  pound  of  silver  to 
one  thousand  pounds  of  the  ore.  If  the  lead  is  converted 
into  litharge  it  may  be  subsequently  reduced  to  metallic 
lead  in  the  furnace.  The  ore  contains  85  and  will  yield 
79  per  cent,  of  lead. 


Tin  ore  of  Jackson. 

On  the  estate  of  Mr.  Eastman  of  Jackson,  I  discovered 
a  large  mass  of  tin  ore  which  was  blasted  out  while  ob- 
taining specimens  of  the  arsenical  pyrites  which  occurs  on 
that  estate. 

The  ore  consists  of  the  massive,  crystallized  and  gran- 
ular oxide  of  tin,  and  is  associated  with  the  arsenical  iron, 
but  is  not  mixed  with  it.  Having  reduced  a  few  of  the 
crystals  to  metallic  tin  while  in  the  town  of  Jackson,  I 
subsequently  made  a  minute  chemical  analysis,  and  several 
assays  of  the  ore  in  mass,  and  obtained,  after  pulverizing 
and  washing,  from  30  to  50  per  cent,  of  tin. 

By  assay  in  a  brasqued  crucible  I  obtained  from  57  grs. 
of  the  washed  and  roasted  ore  22  grains  of  pure  metallic 
tin,  which  would  be  equal  to  37  per  cent,  of  tin  in  the  ore. 

By  washing  the  pulverized  ore  I  found  that  on  an  aver- 


TIN  ORES  IN  JACKSON.  147 

age,  53  per  cent,  remained,  which  was  composed  of  frag- 
ments and  grains  of  oxide  of  tin.  The  pure  crystallized 
oxide  of  tin,  according  to  Beudant,  consists  of 

Tin,  76.67 

Oxygen,  21.33 

100.0 

In  order  to  make  a  comparison  between  the  crystals  of 
oxide  of  tin  from  Jackson,  and  those  from  other  localities, 
I  requested  Mr.  J.  E.  Teschemacher,  who  was  very  famil- 
iar with  all  the  Cornish  varieties,  to  take  some  of  ours  and 
to  measure  them  by  the  Reflecting  Geometer.  He  polite- 
ly acceded  to  my  wishes,  and  presents  the  following  ob- 
servations. 


Boston,  Dec.  4,  1840. 
DEAR  SIR: — 

Below  you  will  find  a  drawing,  much  enlarged,  of  the 
form  of  most  of  the  crystals  in  the  specimens  of  tin  ore 
discovered  by  you  in  New  Hampshire,  which  I  have  ex- 
amined. The  planes  are  not  sufficiently  free  from  striae 
to  perm  it  the  use  of  the  reflecting  Goniometer  in  ascertain- 
ing the  angles ;  the  measurements  are  therefore  those  of 
Phillips,  of  the  accuracy  of  which  I  entertain  no  doubt. 
The  form  is  that  of  a  macle  of  the  square  prism,  with  a 
pyramidal  summit,  arising  from  modifications  of  an  obtuse 
octahedron  with  a  square  base,  the  primary  form  of  tin  ox- 
ide ;  P.  and  P.  the  only  remains  of  this  primary.  The  fig- 
ure represents  a  macle  of  only  two  crystals ;  the  originals 
are  composed  of  several  united  in  the  same  way.  This  is, 
I  believe,  the  most  common  of  the  crystalline  forms  in  the 
tin  deposits  of  other  countries,  and  appears  to  me  a  reason 
for  supposing  the  deposit  in  New  Hampshire  to  be  large, 
which  I  should  have  doubted  had  the  crystalline  forms 


148 


TIN    ORES    IN    JACKSON. 


been  those  of  rare  occurrence  elsewhere.  I  return  the  best 
crystals  I  could  select  from  the  specimens  you  were  so 
kind  as  to  give  me.  Your's  sincerely, 

J.  E.  TESCHEMACHER. 
Dr.  C.  T.  JACKSON,  Boston. 


Ponj  loOd.  45m.     /  on  e  133d.  32m.      n  on  e  135d.      Planes  e  usually  striated. 

From  the  foregoing  remarks  it  will  appear  that  we  have 
satisfactorily  proved  the  existence  of  an  ore  of  tin  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  I  believe  that,  although  some  minute 
grains  have  been  seen  on  the  garnet  rock  of  Haddam>  in 
Connecticut,  that  this  may  be  considered  the  first  proper 
tin  ore  that  has  yet  been  found  in  which  there  was  a  nota- 
ble proportion  of  tin. 

This  should  stimulate  to  renewed  search  for  other  veins 
of  this  valuable  ore  which  I  doubt  not  will  be  found  in 
workable  quantities  in  some  parts  of  the  State  when  more 
eyes  are  made  familiar  with  the  appearance  of  an  ore 
which  has  not  the  least  semblance  to  a  metal,  and  hence 
has  probably  been  heretofore  overlooked  by  those  not  con- 
versant with  minerals. 

Thus  far  the  small  tin  vein  of  Jackson  must  be  looked 
upon  only  as  a  valuable  guide,  for  it  does  not  contain  an 
adequate  quantity  of  the  ore  for  supplying  a  furnace. 

By  exploring  the  arsenic  veins  more  tin  ore  may  yet  be 
found,  and  the  arsenic  ore  will  repay  the  expense  or  labor 
of  extracting  it,  since  it  will  sell  for  $40  per  ton  in  chem- 


GRANULAR    QUARTZ.  149 

ical  works,  where  it  is  used  for  the  manufacture  of  arsen- 
iate  of  potash. 

The  arsenic  ore  of  Jackson  is  found  on  the  estate  of 
Mr.  Eastman,  and  is  a  vein  varying  from  1  to  8  inches  in 
width,  and  is  of  unknown  but  great  length. 

This  ore,  on  chemical  analysis,  yields  60  per  cent  of 
arsenic,  38  per  cent  of  iron,  and  a  small  proportion  of  sul- 
phur. 

On  distillation,  it  gives  up  more  than  half  its  arsenic, 
the  remainder  being  combined  with  the  iron  so  as  not  to 
volalatize.  I  obtained  readily  by  distilling  the  ore  in  an 
earthern  retort,  35  per  cent  of  brilliant  crystals  of  pure 
metallic  arsenic,  and  some  octahedral  crystals  of  sulphu- 
ret  of  arsenic  in  the  states  of  orpiment  and  realgar,  those 
sulphurets  crystalizing  farther  down  the  neck  of  the  re- 
tort, they  being  more  volatile  than  metallic  arsenic. 

The  arsenic  ore  is  very  heavy,  and  occupies  so  little 
bulk  in  proportion  to  its  weight,  that  it  may  be  transport- 
ed to  market  at  a  sufficiently  low  rate. 

It  will  prove  valuable  as  an  ore  from  which  pure  metal- 
lic arsenic  may  be  obtained  for  use  in  the  arts,  especially 
in  the  manufacture  of  shot,  arsenic  being  always  mixed 
with  the  lead  to  make  it  granulate  when  poured  through 
the  seives  in  the  shot  towers. 


Granular  Quartz. 

This  mineral  abounds  in  various  parts  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  is  at  present  wrought  only  in  the  town  of  Uni- 
ty, by  Daniel  M'Clure.  (See  page  69  of  this  Report.) 
During  the  past  year  Mr.  M'Clure  ground,  bolted  and  sold 
35  tons  of  his  granular  quartz  to  the  sand-paper  works  of 
Rockingham,  Vt. 


150  GRANULAR 


He  prepares  three  sizes  by  means  of  a  bolting  machine, 
which  sizes  correspond  to  sand  papers  Nos.  1,  2  and  3. 
Specimens  of  this  mineral  thus  prepared  have  been  ob- 
tained for  the  State  cabinet. 

A  fine  polishing  powder,  equal  to  emery  for  all  ordina- 
ry uses  in  polishing  metals,  &c.,  is  also  put  up  in  papers 
of  1  pound  each,  which  packages  sell  for  12  cents. 

The  same  kind  of  granular  quartz  which  serves  for  the 
manufacture  of  sand  paper  will  also  answer  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  rifles  for  sharpening  scythes.  It  is  also  a  good 
substance  for  mixing  with  paint  in  order  to  encrust  the 
pillars  of  public  buildings  so  as  to  prevent  injury  from  the 
knives  of  idlers. 

The  finest  powdered  quartz  has  also  been  successfully 
mixed  with  white  lead  in  large  quantities,  and  it  is  said 
to  answer  the  purpose  better  than  barytes. 

I  have  used  Mr.  M'Clure's  granular  quartz  for  mix- 
ing with  fine  clay  in  the  manufacture  of  crucibles  and 
muffles,  which  are  employed  in  my  laboratory,  and  find  it 
to  be  of  excellent  quality  for  that  purpose. 

It  may  also  be  used  by  dentists  who  require  an  addition 
of  quartz  for  the  formation  of  mineral  teeth  from  felspar. 
It  will  also  make  an  excellent  body  for  fire  brick  when 
mixed  with  refractory  clay.  Where  a  perfectly  white 
stucco  or  plastering  is  wanted  for  ceilings  it  is  an  excel- 
lent article  for  mixing  with  the  lime  in  the  place  of  sand. 

It  has  a  very  sharp  grit,  and  is  one  of  the  best  materi- 
als for  sawing  and  grinding  marble. 

When  fused  with  a  large  proportion  of  potash  or  soda, 
it  forms  a  glass  soluble  in  hot  water,  which,  if  spread  up- 
on wood  work  will  effectually  prevent  its  taking  fire. 

The  refuse  granular  quartz  is  also  used  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  glass.  The  locality  mentioned  on  67th  page  of 
this  Report,  is  only  20  miles  from  the  Keene  glass  works, 
and  will  doubtless  be  carried  there  for  the  manufacture  of 


MICA. 


151 


glass,  and  the  locality  will  yield  an  inexhaustible  supply. 
I  have  mentioned  some  of  the  various  uses  for  which 
this  mineral  may  be  employed.  It  is  not  improbable 
there  may  be  numerous  other  arts  in  which  it  may  be 
used  advantageously.  It  must  be  remembered  that  only 
a  few  years  have  passed  since  granular  quartz  was  ranked 
among  the  useless  minerals,  and  we  may  be  led  to  a  more 
full  belief  in  the  principle  that  "  nothing  is  made  in  vain" 
although  we  may  not  at  the  moment  discover  how  they 
may  be  employed  for  the  service  of  mankind. 

Granular  quartz  quarried  in  masses  is  worth  on  the  spot 
$  1  50  per  ton.  Ground  and  not  bolted,  $5  per  ton.  Bolt- 
ed, $20  per  ton.  It  grinds  very  easily  in  a  common  grist 
mill  with  granite  stones,  but  bolts  slowly  on  account  of 
its  great  weight ;  hence  the  increased  the  cost  of  the 
bolted  and  assorted  powders. 

Mica. 

Mica  is  obtained  in  large  quantities  in  the  towns  of 
Alstead  and  Grafton,  where  regular  quarries  are  wrought 
for  the  purpose  of  extracting  it  from  the  coarse  granite 
rocks. 

The  Alstead  quarry  is  owned  by  Mr.  James  Bowers, 
of  Acworth,  who  pursues  the  business  in  a  profitable 
manner,  and  sells  from  800  to  1000  dollars  worth  per  sea- 
son, at  the  rate  of  from  2  to  3  dollars  per  Ib.  He  sup- 
plies the  Boston  market  with  a  large  quantity  of  this  use- 
ful mineral. 

The  Grafton  quarry  is  wrought  by  persons  resident  in 
Boston,  and  their  principal  market  is  New  York.  They 
quarry  and  sell  about  $  1000  worth  per  annum,  and  obtain 
from  2  50  to  3  per  Ib.  for  the  trimmed  plates  suitable  for 
use.  The  rough  irregular  plates  are  sold  at  prices  vary- 
ing from  1$  to  2$  per  Ib. 


152  CHLOROPHYLLITE. 

Formerly  we  depended  upon  the  quarries  of  Russia 
for  this  valuable  mineral,  and  it  was  known  in  the  market 
under  the  names  of  Muscovy  talc,  or  isinglass.  It  is  em- 
ployed on  board  the  Russian  ships  of  war  in  the  place  of 
glass,  and  has  the  advantage  of  not  being  broken  by 
the  concussion  produced  on  firing  cannon.  In  this  coun- 
try we  employ  mica  for  the  manufacture  of  lanthorns, 
and  those  of  the  Boston  fire  companies  are  generally  made 
of  New  Hampshire  mica.  It  is  used  also  for  stove  win- 
dows, and  for  the  manufacture  of  cards,  for  the  mariner's 
compass,  it  having  the  property  of  never  warping  by 
moisture  or  dryness.  The  best  compasses  are  made  of 
a  single  clear  plate  of  mica,  under  which  the  magnetic 
bar  is  secured,  and  on  the  upper  side  the  printed  plate 
bearing  the  cardinal  points,  is  pasted.  Mica  has  also  been 
used  to  protect  ships'  bottoms  from  worms,  but  to  a  very 
limited  extent,  copper  being  better  for  that  purpose. 


Chlorophyllite — A  new  Mineral. 

CHLOROPHYLLITE.  I  have  given  this  name  to  a  new 
mineral  found  near  J.  Neal's  mine  in  Unity.  The  name 
is  derived  from  the  Greek  words  signifying  green  folia,  a 
name  which  is  eminently  characteristic  of  the  species. 

It  occurs  in  tabular,  or  short  six  sided  prisms,  arranged 
in  folia  or  in  columnar  masses,  resulting  from  the  open- 
ness of  its  natural  joints. 

The  extremeties  of  the  prisms  or  tables  are  often  cov- 
ered with  thin  layers  of  mica,  which  circumstance  has 
caused  some  mineralogists  to  mistake  the  true  nature  of 
the  mineral. 

It  cleaves  readily  into  regular  six  sided  prisms,  with 
resplendent  surfaces. 

On  trying  its  hardness  it  was  found  to  yield  to  the 


CHEMICAL  ANALYSES.  153 

knife  readily,  but  it  scratches  glass,  and  is  harder  than 
phosphate  of  lime. 

Its  powder  is  of  a  very  pale  greenish  white.  Alone  be- 
fore the  blowpipe  it  glazes  slightly  on  the  surface,  but 
does  not  fuse  entirely. 

It  is  fusible  with  carbonate  of  soda,  with  slow  efferves- 
cence, and  forms  an  opaque  greenish  enamel,  which  be- 
comes of  a  darker  green  in  the  reducing  flame. 
Its  specific  gravity  is  2.705. 

Mr.  J.  D.  Whitney  analyzed  a  specimen  of  it  in  my 
laboratory,  and  obtained  the  following  results.  One  hun- 
dred grains  of  the  mineral  consist  of 

Water,  3.600 

Silica,  45.200 

Phosphate  of  Alumina,  27.600 

Magnesia,  9.600 

Prot-oxide  of  Iron,  8.256 

Manganese,  4.100 

Traces  of  Potash,  and  loss,  1.644 


100.000 

Chemical  analysis  of  the  brown  Tourmaline,  from  the 
Talcose  slate  rocks  of  Orford. 

100  grains  of  this  mineral  consist  of 

Water,  0.8 

Silica,  33.7 

Alumina,  33.0 

Per  oxide  of  Iron,  11.8 

Oxide  of  Manganese,  3.4 

Magnesia,  6.4 

Lime,  2.9 

Soda,  and  traces  of  Lithia,  4.9 

Boracic  acid  and  loss,  3.1 

100.00 
19 


154  CHEMICAL  ANALYSES. 

Chemical  analysis  of  Beryl  from  Acworth,  by  M.  B. 
Williams. 

Silica,  68.35 

Alumina,  17.60 

Glucina,  14.00 

Ox.  Iron,  and  chromic  oxide,  traces  and  loss,  0.05 

100.00 

Chemical  analysis  of  the  white  felspar,  or  albite  of 
Alstead,  by  J.  D.  Whitney. 

100  grains  of  the  mineral  yield 

Silica,  70.84 

Alumina,  21.20 

Soda,  and  traces  of  Lime  and  Iron,  7.96 

100.00 

Chemical  analysis  of  Marl,  from  Lyme. 
100  grains  of  the  dry  marl  contain 

Water, 

Vegetable  matter, 

Insoluble  silicates, 

Per  oxide  of  Iron,     , 

Alumina  (free) 

Carbonate  of  Lime, 

gain  from  moisture, 

100.0 

The  vegetable  matter  consists  of  the  crenic  and  apo- 
crenic  acids  with  traces  of  humic  acid.  The  amount  sol- 
uble in  carbonate  of  ammonia  in  100  grains  of  the  marl, 
is  1.5  grains. 

The  marl  of  Lyme  may  be  advantageously  employed 
for  the  improvement  of  the  sandy  soils  which  occur  in 
the  vicinity. 


GRAPHITE    OR    PLUMBAGO.  155 

Chemical  analysis  of  plastic  clay  from  Bath. 

100  grains  of  the  dry  clay  contain 

Water,  1.8 

Vegetable  matter,  3.5 

Insoluble  silicates,  81.2 
Per  oxide  of  iron,  6.7 

Alumina,  5.0 

Grenate  and  sulphate  of  lime ,      1.7 
Loss,  0.1 

100.0 


Graphite  or  Plumbago  mines. 

Plumbago  is  obtained  in  numerous  places  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, but  we  know  of  only  a  few  beds  of  that  mineral 
which  are  more  than  4  feet  in  width  and  they  are  fre- 
quently of  much  smaller  dimensions. 

Mr.  Henry  D.  Pierce  of  Hillsborough,  works  the  plum- 
bago mines  of  Goshen,  and  sells  about  20  tons  of  the 
ground  mineral  per  annum  at  prices  varying  from  3  to  5 
cts  per  pound.  It  is  used  for  the  manufacture  of  melting 
pots  employed  by  copper  founders. 

The  Goshen  mines  are  situated  on  the  side  of  Sunapee 
Mountain,  1  1-2  mile  S.  E.  from  Mr.  Trow's  house.  The 
bed  is  included  in  mica  slate  and  is  accompanied  by  radia- 
ted black  tourmaline.  Its  course  is  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  and 
it  dips  to  the  S.  E.  74°.  It  is  also  accompanied  by  cross 
veins  of  a  very  fine  and  pure  foliated  plumbago  suitable 
for  pencils. 

In  Antrim,  near  Hillsborough,  there  is  also  a  bed  of 
very  pure  plumbago,  situate  on  Campbell's  Mountain. 
The  bed  is  irregular,  varying  from  a  few  inches  to  2  feet 
and  runs  N.  10°  E.,  S.  10°  W.  This  locality  has  not  yet 


156  MOLYBDENA  AND  BARYTES. 

been  sufficiently  examined.  The  quality  of  the  plum- 
bago being  excellent,  it  is  intended  to  open  the  bed  to 
some  extent  during  the  present  year. 

Sulphuret  of  Molybdena,  a  substance  bearing  a  close 
resemblance  in  its  external  characters,  to  foliated  graphite 
or  plumbago,  occurs  in  the  town  of  Westmoreland  on  the 
estate  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  very  large  veins ;  also  in  Fran- 
conia  and  Landaff  in  regular  tabular  crystals. 

This  mineral  was  examined  for  the  purpose  of  ascer- 
taining whether  it  could  be  used  advantageously  for  the 
fabrication  of  a  pigment  or  coloring  matter.  Its  deut-oxide 
is  of  a  beautiful  blue  color  and  it  has  been  supposed  to  be 
capable  of  being  used  in  the  arts.  Thus  far  no  favorable 
result  has  been  obtained,  but  it  deserves  a  further  trial. 

The  composition  of  pure  sulphuret  of  molybdena  is  in 

100  grains, 

Sulphur,  40 

Molybdena.  60 

100  Beudant. 

Sulphate  of  barytes  is  a  heavy  white  crystallized  min- 
eral bearing  some  resemblance  to  calcareous  spar  in  its 
color,  but  it  is  much  heavier.     It  is  scratched  by  fluor-spar 
and  is  fusible  before  the  blow  pipe  into  a  white  enamel. 
Its  specific  gravity  is  4.7. 

It  occurs  in  veins  and  nests  in  the  micaceous  specular 
iron  ore  of  Piermont,  on  Cross'  Hill. 

The  composition  of  pure  sulphate  of  baryta  is 
Sulphuric  acid,  34.37 

Baryta,  65.63 

100.00 

It  is  sometimes  used  in  the  adulteration  of  white  lead, 
for  which  its  great  weight  and  pure  whiteness  fits  it,  but 
it  diminishes  the  body  of  the  white  lead,  and  also  wears 
out  the  painter's  brushes;so  that  it  is  in  a  measure  injurious. 


DANAITE. 


1ST 


Mr.  A.  Hayes,  of  Roxbury,  has  made  a  chemical  analy- 
sis of  the  arsenical  sulphuret  of  iron  and  cobalt  or  Danaite, 
which  is  found  in  Franconia,  and  I  hoped  to  have  been 
able  to  communicate  his  results  in  this  report,  but  his  ab- 
sence from  home  has  prevented  my  obtaining  from  him 
his  notes. 

The  following  measurements  were  made  on  a  crystal, 
which  I  gave  to  Mr.  J.  E.  Teschemacher  of  Boston,  who 
has  kindly  furnished  me  with  a  drawing  which  is  here 
represented  by  a  wood  cut  engraving. 


Boston,  Nov.  10,  1840. 
DEAR  SIR  : — 

Below  I  beg  to  hand  you  the  drawing  and  measurements 
of  the  mineral  as  you  requested.  Pray  make  what  use  of 
it  you  please.  Yours  sincerely, 

J.  E.  TESCHEMACHER. 


Primary  form,  the  right  rhombic  prism. 

M  on  M  68  do  ,  over  summit  112.  a  on  a  121.30.  c  on  c'  100.15.  Planes  i  1  too 
dull  to  measure. 

Planes  P  P  are  obliterated  by  modification,  c  on  the  acute  angle  of  the  right 
rhombic  prism. 

Brongniart  observes  that  cobalt,  as  well  as  silver,  is  frequently  found  in  small 
quantities  in  arsenical  pyrites. 


Additional 
articulars. 


Water. 
Organic  matter. 

Magnesia. 
Salts  of  Lime. 
Alumina. 

Per-ox'e  of  iron 
and  manganese 

Insoluble  in 
muriatic  acid. 

Fine  Loam. 

Sand. 

Grain. 


Particulars  of 
cultivation. 


Description 

and 
Locality. 


Number. 


5  O  CO  GO  tO  CO°  GO  G^"  CO  GO  S<f  >-«  "*'  CO  i— '  G^i  ®' 


tO  O  O  G^          *™4  ^O  O^  O          O^ 


I! 

11  . 


gggS5; 


ill 

UUc« 


. 


W 


ANALYSIS  OP  PEATS,  MARLS,  AND  CLAYS. 


159 


ANALYSIS  OF  PEATS,  MARLS,  AND  CLAYS. 


Silicious  matter. 


No. 

Locality. 

Veg'ble 
matter. 

Silicious 
matter. 

Silica. 

Alumina 
and  iron. 

Salts  of 
Lime. 

1 

Meredith.    "} 

Peat. 

94.90 

5.10 

2.10 

1.00 

2.00 

2    |  Canterbury  £ 

Peat.* 

93.80 

6.20 

3.90 

1.10 

1.20 

3 

Franconia.  ) 

Peat. 

73.70 

26.30 

18.30 

4.00 

3.80 

4 

Lyme. 

Marl. 

2.80 

79.50 

notsep 

9.40 

7.30 

Carb.  Lime. 

5 

« 

Marl. 

1.90 

77.30 

15.80 

3.50 

5  carb.&  cre- 

l  nate  of  lime 

6 

Bath. 

Clay. 

3.50 

81.20 

11.70 

.00 

7 

Hanover,     } 

C  Carbonate 

Mr.  J.  Dur-  £ 

Marl. 

4.80 

83.00 

10.00 

2.20 

<  and  crenate 

kee'sFarm.  j) 

Cof  Lime. 

*  Shaker's  Farm. 


Shaker  Village,  Oct.  12.  1840. 
DR.  JACKSON: 

I  herewith  send  you  a  few  specimens  of  the  different 
soils  which  principally  compose  our  farm.  My  object  is 
to  gain  a  practical  knowledge  of  the  soils,  so  as  to  render 
the  good  better,  and  the  poor  productive.  No.  1  contains 
a  portion  of  the  large  peat  bog  which  you  examined  when 
at  our  Village. 

No.  2  was  taken  from  our  garden — soil  naturally  good, 
and  by  cultivation  brought  to  a  high  state  of  productive- 
ness. 

(Is  not  this  soil  (No.  2)  too  heavy  for  the  peat  compost  ?) 

No.  3  is  a  very  weak  soil,  rather  moist  than  otherwise, 

producing  only  white  birch  bushes  and  wild  golden-rod, 

(Solidago)  and  will  not  retain  the  manure  applied  more 

than  one  or  two  years. 

No.  4  is  the  sub-soil  of  the  above,  (No.  3-) 
(Would  not  these  two  intimately  mixed  form  a  good  soil? ) 
No.  5  was  taken  from  the  best  natural  grass  land  we 
have, — probably  as  good  as  any  in  the  country. 

No.  6  is  the  stone  I  mentioned  to  you,  which  I  suppose 
is  some  combination  of  iron  with  some  of  the  earths. 


160  SOILS    AND    COMPOSTS* 

Thanking   you   for  your  liberality   in  communicating 
your  sentiments  in  regard  to  soils,  manures,  &c.  and  hap- 
py to  render  you  all  the  assistance  in  our  power. 
I  remain,  yours  truly, 

WM.  TRIPURE. 

During  the  past  winter,  a  large  share  of  my  time  has 
been  devoted  to  researches  into  the  nature  of  soils,  and  I 
intended  to  publish  in  this  Report  a  full  account  of  the 
results  to  which  I  had  arrived,  but  the  subject  requires 
so  many  details  and  general  considerations,  in  order  to 
render  it  fully  comprehensible,  that  it  would  be  imprac- 
ticable to  have  the  Report  ready  in  season,  if  all  the  mat- 
ter should  be  printed.  By  advice  of  the  Governor  and 
Council,  I  have  therefore  suppressed  a  large  portion  of  my 
remarks,  and  shall  reserve  them  for  the  full  Report,  whi  ch 
will  be  published  hereafter.  We  shall  then  be  able  to  give  a 
still  more  detailed  account  of  the  nature  and  modes  of  im- 
provement of  soils,  and  hope  to  obtain  much  valuable  sta- 
tistical information  concerning  the  agriculture  of  the 
State. 

I  have  inserted  the  general  results  of  the  proximate 
analyses,  in  order  to  exhibit  the  proportions  of  earthy,  sa- 
line and  vegetable  matters  in  the  soils  which  have  been 
analyzed.  In  my  next  Report,  I  shall  give  a  full  account 
of  the  precise  nature  of  the  organic  matters  which  have 
been  detected  in  soils  of  various  grades  of  fertility.  I  may 
here  state  that  we  have  discovered  the  following  ingredi- 
ents in  the  organic  matter  of  all  the  soils  which  have  been 
analyzed,  and  that  they  vary  in  proportions  in  different 
soils  and  at  different  seasons  of  the  year,  so  that  the  ut- 
most detail  will  be  reqaired  hereafter  in  the  exposition  of 
their  relations  to  each  other,  and  to  the  mineral  ingredi- 
ents. 

The  soluble  organic  ingredients  found  in  all  fertile  soils, 


SOILS    AND    COMPOSTS.  161 

according  to  the  researches  of  Berzelius.  Hermann,  and 
those  which  I  have  made  during  the  past  three  years,  are 

Crenic  acid, 

Apocrenic  acid. 

Humin  acid, 

Humic,  and 

Extract  of  Humus. 

These  matters  are  generally  combined  with  the  bases 
Lime,  Magnesia,  Soda  or  Potash,  Ammonia,  Manganese, 
Per-oxide  of  iron  and  Alumina,  forming  extremely  com- 
plex combinations,  which  require  the  exertion  of  the  ut- 
most skill  of  the  chemist  for  their  separation. 

As  a  general  result,  I  would  also  state  that  the  crenic 
and  humic  acids,  combined  with  lime  and  ammonia,  exist 
in  the  sub-soils ;  hence  we  may  account,  in  a  measure,  for 
the  advantages  arising  from  deep  and  sub-soil  ploughing, 
which  bring  these  valuable  soluble  ingredients  within  the 
reach  of  plants. 

In  several  bog  and  pond  waters  I  have  also  found  the 
apocrenate  and  humate  of  ammonia,  in  considerable  quan- 
tities, and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  differences  observed  in 
the  relative  value  of  waters  for  irrigation  depends  upon  the 
presence  or  absence  of  these  soluble  matters. 

When  we  form  compost  manures,  we  should  endeavor 
to  produce  those  useful  substances  which  may  be  deficient 
in  the  natural  soil,  and  to  replace  those  which  are  ex- 
hausted by  the  repeated  removal  of  crops,  or  by  infiltration 
and  decomposition.  It  becomes  us,  therefore,  to  ascertain 
most  minutely  the  chemical  nature  of  soils,  and  to  study 
attentively  the  effects  of  compost  manures.  This  subject 
is  yet  in  its  infancy,  and  requires  the  aid  of  the  most 
careful  and  scientific  researches  for  its  full  elucidation. 

We  can,  from  experimental  trials  and  from  long  and  re- 
peated observations,  give  some  useful  directions  as  to  the 
preparation  of  compost  manures.  The  following  results 

20 


162  SOILS    AND    COMPOSTS. 


Veg- 


may  therefore  be  found  of  advantage  to  the  farmer.  Veg- 
etable matters,  on  decomposition,  produce  a  brown  sub- 
stance, which  has  acid  properties,  and  which  is  but  slightly 
soluble  in  pure  water. 

By  the  action  of  alkaline  matters,  such  as  potash,  soda, 
ammonia  and  lime,  we  may  correct  this  natural  acidity, 
and  at  the  same  time  convert  a  larger  proportion  of  the 
vegetable  mould  into  a  soluble  manure,  capable  of  be- 
ing taken  up  by  the  rootlets  of  plants,  and  suitable  for 
assimilation  in  the  vegetable  sap  vessels. 

Animal  matter,  containing  a  large  proportion  of  nitro- 
gen, gives  out  a  great  quantity  of  ammonia  when  decom- 
posed. Hence  the  well  known  value  of  animal  excrements 
as  manures,  even  on  soils  already  charged  with  a  suffi- 
ciency of  vegetable  matters. 

Now  we  shall  see  that  the  influence  of  lime  in  a  com- 
post heap,  composed  of  vegetable  and  animal  matters  in  a 
state  of  decay,  is  to  eliminate  the  ammonia  from  the  pu- 
trid animal  matters,  so  as  to  cause  it  to  act  upon  the  vege- 
table substances,  which  are  naturally  acid,  and  to  render  a 
larger  proportion  of  the  organic  matter  soluble  in  water. 

The  influence  of  lime  is  also  exerted  to  neutralize  acids 
which,  in  their  free  state,  are  noxious  j  such,  for  instance, 
as  the  sulphuric  and  phosphoric  acids,  and  their  acid  salts, 
and  the  resulting  combinations  with  lime  are  extremely 
favorable  to  vegetation. 

Gypsum,  if  mixed  into  a  compost  where  carbonate  of  am- 
monia is  eliminated,  is  partially  decomposed,  and  carbonate 
of  lime  and  sulphate  of  ammonia  result,  which  the  exper- 
iments of  Mr.  Lecog  and  others  have  proved  to  be  valuable 
saline  manures.  Carbonate  of  ammonia  is  also  well  known 
to  be  a  most  powerful  manure,  but  we  cannot  afford  to  use 
in  a  large  way  so  costly  a  substance  as  the  commercial  ar- 
ticle. We  must,  therefore,  make  it  indirectly  in  our  com- 
post heaps,  as  I  have  long  since  stated  in  former  Reports, 


SOILS    AND    COMPOSTS. 


163 


When  \ve  compost  together  through  the  whiter  peat, 
swamp  muck,  rotten  wood,  or  any  vegetable  matters,  with 
barn-yard  manure,  and  in  the  spring  season  we  mix  into 
the  heap,  about  three  weeks  before  we  intend  to  use  the 
compost,  some  recently  slacked  lime,  (or,  if  that  is  not  to 
be  had,  some  unleached  ashes  or  potash  will  answer,)  we 
generate,  from  the  decomposition  of  the  animal  matters, 
an  enormous  quantity  of  ammonia,  which  will  be  absorb- 
ed by  the  vegetable  acids,  and  the  manure  will  be  power- 
fully augmented  in  strength  and  value. 

The  proportions  in  which  peat  or  swarnp  muck  and 
stable  manure  have  been  employed  on  a  large  scale,  suc- 
cessfully, are  as  follows : 

Three  loads  of  swamp  muck  or  peat; 

One  load  of  stable  or  barn-yard  or  any  animal  manure. 

These  are  made  into  a  compost  heap  and  are  allowed  to 
ferment  over  winter,  or  long  enough  for  decomposition  to 
commence. 

In  the  spring  season,  one  cask  of  recently  slaked  lime 
is  to  be  carefully  mixed  in  while  digging  over  the  heap. 
The  lime  extricates  the  pungent,  gaseous  alkali  ammonia 
which  penetrates  every  part  of  the  compost  heap  and 
neutralizes  the  organic  acids,  forming  valuable  soluble 
compounds. 

Night  soil  and  the  urine  of  animals  is  also  a  most  useful 
addition  to  a  compost  heap  and  will  produce  more  ammo- 
nia than  any  other  animal  manures.  Every  farmer  should 
provide  some  means  for  saving  the  liquid  manures  which 
are  so  frequently  wasted,  for  if  properly  used,  liquid  ma- 
nures are  of  very  great  value. 

If  peat  swamp  muck  or  rotten  wood  can  be  obtained, 
they  may  be  made  to  absorb  the  liquids  by  placing  them 
under  the  stable,  or  a  trench  may  be  cut  from  the  stable 
and  vault,  and  the  liquid  manures  may  be  conveyed 
thereby  into  the  vegetable  composts  which  in  such  case 


164  SOILS    AND    COMPOSTS. 

may  be  placed  at  a  distance  from  the  dwelling  house,  at  a 
lower  level. 

Vegetable  matters  of  the  kind  above  stated,  should  also 
be  put  into  the  hog-styes  and  the  hogs  will  soon  convert 
it  into  a  good  compost.  Every  hog,  says  the  celebrated 
farmer,  Mr.  Phinney  of  Lexington,  will  make  10  loads  of 
good  compost  manure  if  you  will  afford  him  the  materials. 
In  the  spring  the  compost  is  to  be  thrown  out  from  the 
styes,  and  then  lime  or  ashes  may  be  advantageously 
mixed  with  it,  and  it  will  be  ready  for  use  in  10  days. 
Many  intelligent  and  enterprising  farmers  already  practice 
some  of  the  rules  here  laid  down,  and  it  is  desirable  that 
all  should  know  the  theory  of  their  operations. 

In  drawing  this  Annual  Report  to  a  close,  I  would  most 
respectfully  invite  the  farmers  of  New  Hampshire  to  keep 
records  of  their  experience,  and  if  they  will  communi- 
cate them  to  me  before  the  1st  of  January  next,  I  shall 
be  happy  to  lay  the  results  of  their  observations  before 
the  agricultural  community  in  my  future  reports  to  the 
Legislature,  and  I  earnestly  hope  that  whoever  has  discov- 
ered any  thing  which  he  deems  useful  in  the  improvement 
of  agriculture,  will  not  fail  to  allow  others  the  benefits 
which  may  result  therefrom.  So  far  as  I  have  observed, 
a  most  liberal  spirit  prevails  among  agriculturists,  and  I 
doubt  not  that  many  useful  suggestions  will  be  communi- 
cated. Individual  experience  may  often  lead  into  error, 
if  not  compared  with  the  experience  of  others,  and  it  is 
an  ancient  and  generally  true  maxim,  that  "in  a  multitude 
of  counsellors  there  is  wisdom." 

The  foregoing  Report  is  most  respectfully  submitted  by 
your  Excellency's  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  T.  JACKSON. 

State  Geologist. 

Boston,  June  ls£,  1841. 

To  His  Excellency  JOHN  PAGE, 

Governor  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire. 


14  DAY  USE 

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